Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE
Issued by NWS Hastings, NE
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842 FXUS63 KGID 100559 AFDGID Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hastings NE 1259 AM CDT Mon Aug 10 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - A few scattered storms developing near the CO/WY/NE border may reach a few southwest portions of the area tonight and mainly a few northwest portions of the area Monday night. - Scattered storm activity through Tuesday is expected to be more isolated with limited (not zero) severe weather potential. - A slightly better potential for more widespread thunderstorm activity will come between Wednesday and Saturday. - Temperatures through Wednesday will range the upper 80s to low 100s. The warmest temperatures and locations mostly likely to see heat index values exceed 100 degrees will be for locations near and south of the NE/KS state line. - Temperatures past wednesday given the increase of cloud coverage and occasionally stormy weather, would be likely to decrease. Highs could reach the 70s again by Friday (60-90% chance for south central Nebraska & 40-60% chance for north central Kansas). && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 359 PM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026 Scattered convection initializing across the eastern CO/WY and the western NE border this afternoon will be closely watched as they track east/southeast through the rest of the evening and nighttime hours. Though most of these storms will likely be in the stages of decay by the time they are approaching our western fringe (around 9PM to 1AM), the potential for a stronger storm to make it into the area is not entirely zero. The locations most likely receive such storms would be for areas mainly concentrated south and west of the Tri- Cities. A similar scenario may play out Monday night as well, though the focus may be shifted more northward (best potential north and west of the Tri-Cities). Given strong, yet elevated instability tonight and Monday (up to 2,000-5,000J/kg of MUCAPE mainly from the contribution of strong mid- level lapse rates: 8-10C/km), a few of the larger/taller storms could use this "energy" to be able to maintain through a portion of the night. The main inhibitor that keeps the chance for widespread storms and mainly the severe potential more limited, however, would be from the presence of weaker shear aloft (20-35kts; generally decreasing through the night). In addition to the weak shear aloft, the nocturnal low-level jet is also projected to lie just east of the area (given the placement of the low-level low pressure center), limiting the potential for further convective initiation. With all that being said, an isolated severe storm, mainly Monday night, can`t be ruled out of the realm of possibilities even though the overall potential appears to be more questionable at this time. For the forth night in a row, fog remains a strong possibility overnight into the morning hours on Monday. The latest HREF guidance continues to have higher than usual confidence for fog potential as 70% of the ensemble members resolve fog with 50% of them showing patches of dense fog. Virtually the same locations this morning (areas near and north of I-80) could be targeted again given the return of similar conditions (light to calm winds with temperatures and dewpoints approaching the mid 60s). The heat will return Monday (upper 80 and 90s) and Tuesday (90s to 104 degrees). Heat index values both days should range the mid 90s to 105 degrees. The greatest heat will generally fall across north central Kansas. These locations will have the best potential to see heat index values over 100 degrees as well as the greatest chances for temperatures to reach/exceed 100 degree (20-40% chance MON & 40- 90% chance TUE). The only factor that has been theorized to knock high down by a few degrees recently and may continue to do so over the next few days has been the presence of elevated smoke. Evident on satellite and from the hazy skies, a few more plumes of elevated smoke may continue to pass overtop given the northwesterly flow regime we find the area underneath. After Tuesday, a cloudier and wetter (possible stormy) pattern begins to emerge in the forecast. Highs as a result may reach the 70s again by Friday (60-90% chance for south central Nebraska & 40-60% chance for north central Kansas). The upper-level flow has been gradually returning back to a more zonal (horizontal: west to east) flow. This pattern is known to be fairly unstable as passing shortwave disturbances can be more subtle. Daily storm initiation tends to be more reliant on mesoscale features that can change more rapidly from day to day (in comparison to more predictable synoptic-level forcings). As result of this more unsettled pattern we find the area in, forecast confidence tends to fall more on the lower-end of the spectrum. Looking ahead at the trends for the end of the week, the National Blend of Models (NBM) is suggesting a more stormy pattern where daily thunderstorm chances return each day. At this point in time, the level of details that we can provide remain limited given the higher than usual model uncertainty and lack of consistency between model runs. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1235 AM CDT Mon Aug 10 2026 For KGRI/KEAR Airports: Some lingering thunderstorms from the Nebraska panhandle have made their way just south of KEAR. With some signs that they may be fizzling out, a short tempo group for KEAR is included for the slight chance of lightning within the next 2 hours (6-8Z). The main impact of this forecast period is the likelihood of fog development this morning, as MVFR visibilities have already set up in the area. The main uncertainty is how dense this fog will get, as the dying convection to the South may impact the fogs development. This uncertainty is highlighted in the tempo group for LIFR visibilities for both KEAR/KGRI between 10-14Z. Visibilities are expected to improve with sunrise this morning. Aside from the fog, some low-level clouds, with MVFR/IFR ceilings, will be possible into the morning hours. This cloud cover is expected to lift and scatter out in the late morning/early afternoon hours, to leave scattered skies by the afternoon. Winds today will be generally light, becoming more SE by this afternoon. Through uncertain, fog development is also possible tonight, however slightly stronger winds around 8-10kts may hinder its development. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. KS...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Stump AVIATION...Scott