Forecast Discussion
NWS Omaha/Valley, NE

993
FXUS63 KOAX 191025
AFDOAX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
525 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Well-above normal temperatures continue through Saturday.
  Highs today reach the low 70s and 80s.

- 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 1101 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026

Thursday through Saturday

A weak disturbance rippled through the region Wednesday evening,
bringing a few sprinkles to parts of eastern Nebraska. Otherwise,
cloud cover kept temperatures from cooling off too quickly last
night, with most of the forecast area still in the 60s at 10 PM.

High pressure will continue to push into the Four Corners region
Thursday, ushering warm dry air across the Central Plains. Highs
will rise back into the 70s Thursday afternoon, with light winds.

Temperatures will approach daily records set in the early 1900s, as
afternoon highs reach into the upper 70s and low 80s Friday, and the
upper 80s and low 90s Saturday. For reference, Norfolk and Lincoln
have only reached 90 degrees five times during the month March since
the their period of records began in 1813 and 1887, respectively.
Omaha has only reached 90 twice in March since 1871. In addition to
the extremely warm temperatures, the dry conditions will pull
relative humidities down to 20-30 percent. While northwesterly winds
will be fairly light Friday, only gusting to 12-20 mph, speeds will
increase out of the south Saturday, gusting to 20-30 mph. Although
these speeds are not nearly as strong as we`ve had recently, when
combined with the dry conditions and warm temperatures, Fire Danger
concerns will increase to Very High, if not Extreme, over most of
the forecast area Friday and Saturday.

Sunday and Beyond...

A shortwave and associated cold front will ripple through the region
Saturday night and Sunday, pulling relatively cooler temperatures
into the Missouri River valley, as well as some gusty north winds.
Highs are forecast to top out in the 50s and low 60s Sunday with
minimum relative humidities around 30 to 40 percent. While this
combination may help improve fire weather concerns to some extent,
northerly winds are expected to reach speeds of 25 to 35 mph,
keeping parts of eastern Nebraska in the Very High category.

Precipitation chances continue to remain off to our north through
early next week. While temperatures may take a brief dip behind
Sunday`s cold front, we should remain at or above normal through the
remainder of the forecast period.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 524 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through the forecast period with
only a few passing high-level clouds. Light northwest winds
this morning switch to southwest and then south late this
afternoon into evening.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...KG
AVIATION...Mead

NWS OAX Office Area Forecast Discussion

Forecast Discussion
NWS Hastings, NE

161
FXUS63 KGID 191116
AFDGID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
616 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Unseasonable record-breaking warmth continues through
  Saturday.

- A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Saturday and Saturday
  night.

- Dry conditions are favored to continue through the end of
  March.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 300 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

The only major update overnight was the introduction of a Fire
Weather Watch for Saturday.

Despite the extreme warmth and dryness, winds today and Friday
should remain light enough to escape any significant fire
concerns. That changes on Saturday as southwesterly winds
increase ahead of an approaching cold front. There is still some
uncertainty on exact extent/magnitude of the wind, but the EPS
ensemble has gusts across the entire area near or above 25 MPH
during the afternoon. Humidity is no question. Temperatures in
the upper 80s and 90s will push humidity to 10-15% for much of
the region, and some western areas could see humidity dip into
the single digits.

Additionally, the cold front will move through the area Saturday
evening into Saturday night, potentially complicating the threat
for any fires that would develop. As such, the Fire Weather
Watch runs until 4am Sunday morning.

Temperatures briefly dip to near-normal for Sunday/Monday, but
are expected to soar back into the 80s for the middle of next
week. Dry or mostly dry conditions are still expected through
the end of March.

&&

.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 /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 613 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

High confidence in VFR conditions through the period. Light
northwest winds turn more westerly this afternoon and then
become light/variable this evening through tonight.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 300 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Potential Record Warm Maximum Temperatures:

Thursday March 19             Forecast High     Record Max/Year
Hastings                        83               84 (1921)
Grand Island                    82               86 (1921)

Friday March 20            Forecast High     Record Max/Year
Hastings                        84               82 (1939)
Grand Island                    84               84 (1921)

Saturday March 21          Forecast High     Record Max/Year
Hastings                        91               87 (1910)
Grand Island                    91               83 (1988)

Wednesday March 25         Forecast High     Record Max/Year
Hastings                        84               85 (1956)
Grand Island                    85               88 (1910)

***Note: The all-time March max temperature is 90 degrees
at both Grand Island and Hastings***

Potential Record Warm Minimum Temperatures:

Friday March 20            Forecast Low    Record Warm Min/Year
Hastings                        46               46 (2011)
Grand Island                    46               50 (1921)

Saturday March 21          Forecast Low    Record Warm Min/Year
Hastings                        47               47 (2012)
Grand Island                    47               54 (1911)

Temperature records for Hastings date back to 1907 and they
date back to 1895 for Grand Island.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through late Saturday
     night for NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087.
KS...Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through late Saturday
     night for KSZ005>007-017>019.

&&

$$

UPDATE...Mangels
DISCUSSION...Davis
AVIATION...Mangels
CLIMATE...NWS Hastings

NWS GID Office Area Forecast Discussion