Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE

Home | Current Version | Previous Version | Graphics & Text | Print | Product List | Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
000
FXUS63 KGID 271740
AFDGID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1240 PM CDT Wed Mar 27 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Light snow showers and flurries move through the area this
  morning.

- Turning warmer on Thursday and Friday.

- Low chances (10-50%) for precipitation (mainly rain) Friday
  and Saturday nights.

- Better chances (30-70%) for rain/snow mix Sunday night through
  Monday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 355 AM CDT Wed Mar 27 2024

As of 330 am, radar is showing returns over western portions of
the forecast area. This is a bit earlier than indicated by
near-term forecast models, but these snow showers are pretty
high-based and will be encountering dry air near the surface.
A few spots could pick up a quick dusting of new snow this
morning, but most will just see flurries (or miss out entirely).

This activity dissipates and exits the area this afternoon, but
lingering clouds will help keep our high temperatures on the
cooler side again today. Snowcover will have a large impact on
temperatures. Highs may struggle to rise above freezing in our
north/west, but portions of Kansas could easily reach the 50s.

Ridging and warmer temperatures aloft move into the area for
Thursday, which should allow temperatures to reach the 60s in
the snow-free areas, but areas with continued snowcover will
probably be stuck in the 50s.

Temperatures on Friday will be similar, but northwest winds will
return as a cold front moves through during the daytime. The
latest NBM added a low chance for rain to the area Friday night,
but there seems to be little to no support for anything
measurable on the 00Z global ensembles.

The weekend will trend cooler, but not cold by any means. Most
will see highs in the 50s...just a few degrees below normal for
late March. There are low chances for precipitation (primarily
rain) Saturday night through Sunday as energy ejects ahead of an
upper low over the southwestern CONUS. Better chances for
precipitation then arrive Sunday night through Monday as a
northern stream shortwave moves dips through the region. Again,
this would primarily favor rain, but some snow is possible. The
NBM probabilities for 1" or more of snow have increased
slightly, with the 01Z run showing a 10-30% chance over the
northwestern half of the forecast area.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1235 PM CDT Wed Mar 27 2024

VFR conditions are present currently at KEAR terminal. KGRI
remains at MVFR levels for another hour or so as a thin line of
lower clouds moves across the area. Expect clearing skies over
the next few hours, with conditions returning to VFR. Winds
remain out of the south around 5-10kts this afternoon,
eventually becoming southwest overnight.

There remains a signal for some fog or low stratus affecting the
region tomorrow morning based on a few models. Whether this
pans out is still up in the air as models seem to be
overestimating the impact of snowmelt across the region.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Mangels
AVIATION...Wekesser


USA.gov is the U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state and local government web resources and services.