72°F
Updated:
3/18/2026
7:36:25pm
Forecast Discussion
NWS Omaha/Valley, NE
984 FXUS63 KOAX 182310 AFDOAX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 610 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Well-above normal temperatures continue through Saturday. Highs today reach the 60s to mid 70s over our far southwest with a few clouds. - Temperatures warm to the 80s for much of the area Friday and Saturday, and a few records could be broken. - Areas of very high to potentially extreme fire danger are forecast for portions of the area Friday and Saturday, driven mainly by dry conditions. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 139 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Today and Tomorrow: Water vapor imagery this afternoon continues to feature a strong mid/upper ridge anchored over the CA/AZ/NV border region, which continues spilling northwest flow into the eastern half of the CONUS as the broad trough over it continues to translate eastward. At the surface, we`ve been feeling every bit of the warm front that pushed east of the area early this morning, helping temperatures reach the 60s and well into 70s closer to central Nebraska. Overnight, a weak surface low and associated shortwave will glance the northeast portion of the forecast area, bringing low-end chances (less than 10% chance) for a sprinkle or two up in northeast Nebraska into Iowa. Generally quiet winds are set to continue through tomorrow, where an equally beautiful day is set to spoil us, with winds out of the northwest. Some lower-level cloud cover will linger from the early morning hours across northeast Nebraska into Iowa, while mostly clear skies remain over the rest of the area. Friday and Beyond: Friday into the weekend, the main mid/upper pattern begins to flatten out while most model solutions keep the remnants anchored over the desert southwest before it is replaced by potentially another ridge next work week. Before it does so, warm conditions are set to hit to maximize Friday and Saturday, where record high temperatures are in striking distance thanks to the overspreading of the low-level thermal ridge that had been hanging out over the High Plains. Highs are set to reach the 70s and 80s Friday, before topping out in the mid-to-upper 80s to even 90 degrees Saturday (wow!). As the same time that temperatures rise, humidity values will be dropping, down into the 15-25% range for eastern Nebraska while Iowa still holds onto some values in the 30s at their lowest. Winds will be of concern, but certainly not as much as they have been recently. Gusts of 20-30 mph Friday will increase to 25-35 mph at their strongest Saturday, combining with the dry weather to create very high to extreme fire danger. The main mechanism that will flatten the pattern arrives in the form of a shortwave late Saturday into Sunday, slightly increasing winds in anticipation of its arrival before greatly increasing SUnday when it brings cooler air southward. Though still above normal, temperatures will be knocked down into the 50s and 60s Sunday, and into the 50s completely Monday. With poor sourcing for any decent columnar moisture, dry weather is still set to hold through the extended forecast only being disrupted by quick-hitting, low QPF chances at sprinkles as shortwaves move through Tuesday and then next Saturday. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 605 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 VFR conditions will prevail through the period. Northerly winds may become variable for couple hours this evening before returning to the northwest Thursday morning. Wind speeds will remain light, likely under 12 kts, through Thursday evening. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Petersen AVIATION...KG
NWS OAX Office Area Forecast Discussion
Forecast Discussion
NWS Hastings, NE
849 FXUS63 KGID 182329 AFDGID Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hastings NE 629 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Near-Critical fire weather continues into the evening hours - Well above normal temperatures continue through Saturday with highs in the 70s/80s Thursday/Friday and in the 80s/90s Saturday. - Fire weather concerns return Saturday due to warm weather, breezy afternoon winds and low humidity. - Largely dry weather expected throughout the forecast period. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 322 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Temperatures this afternoon are in the mid to upper 70s under patchy cirrus. Near-critical fire weather conditions will continue this afternoon where gusts reach 20-25mph, but critical conditions are not expected (other than briefly with the strongest gusts). Aloft the area sits under the eastern edge of an upper level ridge that is centered over the western United States with a trough over the east coast. Lows tonight will be in the upper 30s to mid 40s under partly cloudy skies. Warmth continues tomorrow under the influence of ridging aloft. Highs will be in the mid 70s to low 80s, warmest across southwestern portions of the area. Winds remain light during the daytime hours, keeping gusts at or below 20mph. This limits fire weather concerns despite afternoon relative humidity values falling at or below 25%. Ridging builds/moves over the area on Friday, resulting in another step up in warmth/above normal temperatures. Highs in the 80s are expected across the area. Grand Island and Hastings could challenge record highs, see climate section for more details. Winds remain light, keeping fire weather concerns lower. Saturday remains the warmest day across the forecast area under the center of the ridge. Highs soar into the upper 80s to low 90s. Grand Island and Hastings look to challenge both the daily and monthly record high (monthly record 90 degrees), see climate section for more details. Breezy afternoon winds, gusting 25+mph brings concerns for fire weather. Afternoon relative humidity values of 10-20% would bring critical fire weather conditions of winds are strong enough. A shortwave trough moves into the area Saturday night, pushing a cold front through the area. This front could bring some very light precipitation, though the best chances look to be north/northeast of the forecast area. Cooler but still seasonably warm weather is expected on Sunday and Monday, with highs in the mid 50s to low 60s. Ridging builds back over the area Tuesday and highs climb back to the 70s/80s. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 625 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 For KGRI/KEAR Airports: VFR conditions are expected for the next 24 hours. Winds will weaken this evening and be mostly variable until around 09z. Winds will be out of the northwest at 09z then become westerly by 18z-21z then southwest by 00z Friday. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 245 AM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 As temperatures climb into the 80s later Friday and Saturday, a few record warm temperatures could be in jeopardy across the local area. Friday March 20 Forecast High Record Max/Year Hastings 82 82 (1939) Grand Island 82 84 (1921) Saturday March 21 Forecast High Record Max/Year Hastings 91 87 (1910) Grand Island 92 83 (1988) In addition, record warm minimum temperatures will also be possible Friday and Saturday. Friday March 20 Forecast Low Record Warm Min/Year Hastings 46 46 (2011) Grand Island 47 50 (1921) Saturday March 21 Forecast Low Record Warm Min/Year Hastings 48 47 (2012) Grand Island 48 54 (1911) Temperature records for Hastings date back to 1907 and they date back to 1895 for Grand Island. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. KS...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Davis AVIATION...Schuldt CLIMATE...NWS Hastings
Navigation
