Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE
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491 FXUS63 KGID 262053 AFDGID Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hastings NE 253 PM CST Wed Nov 26 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - A few sprinkles/flurries possible southwest of the Tri-Cities this evening. - Dry on Thanksgiving with highs in the low-mid 40s and partly to mostly sunny skies. - Chances for snow arrive Friday night-Saturday morning. Snow falling combined with northwest winds gusting 35-45mph will result in periods of poor visibility. - Snow accumulations range from a dusting (central/west) to an inch (east). - Sub-Zero wind chills possible Sunday and Monday mornings. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 250 PM CST Wed Nov 26 2025 Today and Tonight... Temperatures this afternoon are sitting below their climatological normals, in the upper 30s to low 40s. A passing disturbance brings a chance for sprinkles/flurries this evening southwest of the Tri- Cities, but dry air near the surface will inhibit/prevent accumulations. Lows tonight drop into the mid teens to mid 20s under mostly cloudy skies. Thanksgiving... Overall, Thanksgiving Day looks to be quiet weather-wise as the area sits under northwesterly flow aloft. Temperatures will be near to slightly below normal, with highs in the low to mid 40s and partly to mostly sunny skies. Friday and Saturday... Southerly flow strengthens over the area on Friday ahead of an approaching trough. Highs on Friday range from the upper 30s across northeastern portions of the area to the upper 40s across the southwest. Southerly winds will be breezy, gusting 25-30mph. Models remain consistent in keeping the initial wave of precipitation northeast of the area, resulting in dry weather during the daytime hours on Friday. This quickly changes Friday night as the trough and surface low move into the Plains. The low will be centered over Kansas Friday night- Saturday morning, with a warm front residing along the NE/KS border. PoPs increase after midnight as precipitation fills in around the low. As it does, cold air wraps into the system with a transition from rain to snow Saturday morning. This could result in a brief period of mixed precipitation, and could result in slick roads when combined with dropping temperatures. Winds gusts quickly ramp Saturday morning along the backside of the low. Northwest winds gusting 35-45mph are expected during the daytime hours on Saturday. Gusty winds combined with any falling snow will result in poor visibility for those outdoors/traveling. Snow ends from west to east late Saturday morning-evening as the system moves into the Midwest. Most of the area will see a dusting to an inch of snow. Eastern- Northeastern portions of the area are most likely to see 1" or more of snowfall, with the least accumulations west of Highway 183. Given the holiday weekend and increased travel it`s worth repeating that those traveling on Saturday will experience poor visibility in falling snow. Uncertainties: The biggest uncertainties with the forecast are how quickly precipitation wraps around the low, and how much snowfall will occur across eastern portions of the area. The high and low end scenarios for precipitation coverage can be seen well when comparing the GFS/NAM to the ECMWF/GDPS. The 12z GFS/NAM show light rain/snow Friday night-Saturday morning. A band of heavier snow then develops during the mid morning hours on Saturday across eastern/northeastern portions of the area which exits the area Saturday afternoon. This scenario would result in most of the forecast area seeing less than an inch of snow, with 1" possible mainly along/east of Highway 81. The heavier solution as shown by the 12z ECMWF/GDPS would see a band of heavier snow develop by sunrise and be further west. This would result in more widespread chances to see 1" of snow, with far eastern portions of the area seeing 2-3" of snow. It`s also worth noting that GFS/ECMWF/GDPS ensembles have shown a gradual westward shift in the chance for 3" of snow (10-20% chance along/east of Highway 81). There is still plenty of time for things to change, so keep a close eye on the forecast, especially for those traveling on Saturday. Sunday Onwards.... Cold air will be in place over the area Sunday morning, with lows in the single digits to low teens and wind chill values near to below zero! Highs on Sunday only climb into the 20s. The next shortwave moves into the plains Sunday night Monday. Models continue to show that any snow that does fall with this system will remain light (a dusting), and be most likely along/south of the NE-KS border. Sub- zero wind chills are possible again Monday morning, with highs once again confined to the 20s. Dry weather is expected on Tuesday with highs climbing above freezing. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1116 AM CST Wed Nov 26 2025 For KGRI/KEAR Airports: VFR conditions expected through TAF period. SCT-BKN mid-level clouds move over the area this evening, clearing by the early morning hours on Thursday. Northwest winds become light and variable this evening, with light and variable winds continuing through the end of the TAF period. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. KS...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Davis AVIATION...Davis