Forecast Discussion
NWS Omaha/Valley, NE

899
FXUS63 KOAX 041023
AFDOAX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
523 AM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A low pressure system lifting northeast across the region will
  bring precipitation chances (20-30%) to northeastern Nebraska
  overnight. Rain mixing with snow before becoming all snow is
  expected.

- Expect a dry weekend with temperatures gradually returning to
  the upper 50s to mid-60s by Sunday afternoon.

- The pattern shifts again heading into mid-week bringing
  additional chances of precipitation to the region.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1141 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Mid-level water vapor imagery shows the low over the Central and
High Plains. A line of storms extending from north central Texas to
eastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin continues to progress to the
northeast. Eastern Nebraska and western Iowa are currently in the
dry slot with the comma head of the low slowly pivoting over the
Nebraska Panhandle and into north central Nebraska. Precipitation
chances will increase across northern Nebraska over the next few
hours as the low shifts northeast, bringing shower activity into the
Omaha forecast area. Precipitation will start as rain or a rain/snow
mix before transitioning to all snow as temperatures drop into the
20s and 30s overnight. Little to no precipitation snow accumulation
is expected.

Saturday, the low lifts northeast out of the region with northwest
flow setting up. Expect dry conditions over the weekend and a
gradual warming trend. By Sunday afternoon, expected highs will
return to the upper 50s to mid-60s.

Monday through the end of the forecast, our unsettled weather
pattern will continue with a couple of disturbances moving through
the region. These systems will bring a cool down and a chance for
precipitation to the region, followed by a brief warm up.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 514 AM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

MVFR ceilings will gradually move eastward today. Brief periods
of VFR conditions may be possible this morning before lower
ceilings fill back in around 15Z. VFR conditions are expected to
prevail after 18-22Z this afternoon. Winds will be breezy out of
the northwest, with gusts as high as 25-35 kts possible. Winds
will likewise decrease through the afternoon, dropping below 12
kts around 00Z this evening.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
IA...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...ANW
AVIATION...KG

NWS OAX Office Area Forecast Discussion

Forecast Discussion
NWS Hastings, NE

538
FXUS63 KGID 041148
AFDGID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
648 AM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Cool and blustery, but dry, today. Near critical fire weather
  possible for far W/SW fringes of forecast area this afternoon.

- Warmer and more pleasant for Easter Sunday, esp. for the
  afternoon into early evening hours.

- Moderate rain chances (up to 40-50%) return on Monday night
  into Tuesday, with even higher chances (60-80%) forecast for
  later next week. Some of this activity may be thunderstorms.

- Temperatures next week appear seasonable for April, with highs
  most days 50s-60s and lows most nights 20s-40s. At least for
  now, Wednesday looks like the overall-warmest day with highs
  70s-low 80s.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 430 AM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

No major changes to the forecast for today. Winds were nudged up
slightly to account for the expected steep low level lapse
rates, deep mixing, and unidirectional low level flow. These
winds will make for a chilly/blustery day as highs remain in the
50s, for most. Feels like temperatures may remain in the 30s for
areas around the Tri-Cities north and east, where low clouds
will be more stubborn, through midday or early afternoon.
Appears any lapse rate driven afternoon showers will favor areas
further N/NE of the local forecast area. Combination of gusty
winds and continued dry W/NW flow could lead to at least a few
hours of near critical fire weather conditions over far W/SW
zones this afternoon, roughly over the same areas that had the
Red Flag Warning yesterday. Temperatures should be cool enough
to preclude critical-level RHs. Temperatures will drop off into
the upper 20s to lower 30s tonight.

Easter Sunday still appears to be fairly pleasant, particularly
for the afternoon into early evening hours, thanks to warmer
temperatures and lighter winds. Also expect a lot of sunshine.
Expect wall to wall 60s to around 70F for highs. Relative
humidity values are lower for the afternoon hours compared to
today, but winds will be lighter...so no major fire weather
concerns at this time.

Temperatures cool off some for Monday, then jump back up on
Tuesday and especially on Wednesday when highs climb into the
70s to lower 80s. We`ll see some precipitation chances return to
the area Monday night into Tuesday, but by far the highest
chances this forecast period come later next week. Some of this
could come as thunderstorms, but it`s still far too early to
determine if any of this may be strong or severe.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 229 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

An upper trough/low is over the Rocky Mountains and the Great
Plains. Upper lift has increased across Nebraska and Kansas
associated with the upper trough/low. This has resulted in showers,
drizzle and fog developing earlier today that has cleared out of the
forecast area. Winds across south central and central Nebraska and
north central Kansas are out of the north with high temperatures
today ranging from the 40s in the north and east to the 50s and 60s
in the south and west. A surface trough/low is across western
Nebraska and western Kansas which has resulted in warmer
temperatures and clearing skies. Temperatures tonight are expected
to drop into the 20s and 30s behind a cold front.

Nebraska and Kansas will be on the backside of the upper trough on
Saturday with gusty north to northwest winds. High temperatures will
mostly be in the 50s and 60s across south central and central
Nebraska and north central Kansas.  Low temperatures Saturday night
will be fairly similar to those from the previous night with light,
westerly winds. Temperatures are expected to warm up into the 60s
and 70s on Sunday with the area in between 2 surface troughs. A cold
front is expected by Monday with high temperatures possibly ranging
from the 40s to near 70. Temperatures will warm on Tuesday with
winds increasing out of the south, although there is quite a bit of
uncertainty with the high temperatures due to increased lift and
cloud cover. Temperatures will continue to warm on Wednesday as
winds increase out of the south to southwest. Cooler temperatures
are expected on Thursday due to a cold front but there is high
uncertainty in regards to the high temperatures due to uncertainties
in the timing and strength of the front. Precipitation chances
increase again next week with the highest chances Thursday night
(60% to 75% chance).

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 644 AM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Today: There`s currently a break in some low level stratus over
the terminals now, but expect more to move back in from the NW
by around 13-14Z. The stratus may be more prevalent at GRI than
EAR. CIGs will be very near the MVFR/VFR threshold through mid
morning, but should rise towards 4-5K ft by around midday. Skies
should clear out this afternoon. Winds will be strong out of the
NW today, sustained 15-25kt, and gusts 30-35kt. Confidence: High

Tonight: Winds will weaken quickly around sunset, but remain out
of the NW to W (at around 5-10kt) overnight. Not expecting much,
if any, cloud cover overnight. Confidence: High.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
KS...None.

&&

$$

UPDATE...Thies
DISCUSSION...Schuldt
AVIATION...Thies

NWS GID Office Area Forecast Discussion