Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Omaha/Valley, NE
Issued by NWS Omaha/Valley, NE
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117 FXUS63 KOAX 091037 AFDOAX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 537 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Regular chances of thunderstorms continue each day through the forecast. Late Wednesday night and late Thursday night bring the best chances (40-70%). - Strong to severe storms are possible over the next several days. The primary hazards are damaging winds and hail. - Wildfire smoke continues to move overhead from the northwest. Most of this smoke remains high in the atmosphere, with only a small amount reaching the surface. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1115 PM CDT Sat Aug 8 2026 Today`s high temps fell shy of expectations as convection lingered longer than anticipated. Many thermometers northwest of the Omaha metro fell shy of 80F. The last of the showers and thunderstorms dissipated and pushed into central Iowa this evening. They generally remained just under severe criteria, although we did get a handful of reports of 1" hail / 60+ gusts. The quiet didn`t last long, as more convection has since developed. Surface analysis reveals a warm front draped along the KS/NE state line. SPC mesoanalysis has highlighted a persistent instability gradient draped northwest to southeast across this CWA. Satellite imagery reminds us that Canadian wildfire smoke hangs heavy over the CWA (and a majority of the CONUS!) The upper pattern shows a dampened ridge over the Desert Southwest and shortwave pushing out of southeast Nebraska in the quasi-zonal flow north of that ridge. Elevated thunderstorms have redeveloped in western Iowa and may expand into the southern tier of counties of eastern Nebraska after midnight when the LLJ pushes right into that stalled front. Most storms should fall shy of severe criteria as the shear will be mostly below the inversion but there will be plenty of elevated instability (2500 J/kg) creating lots of lighting, thunder, heavy rain, and small hail. The chance of precip at Omaha and Lincoln are below 15%. Convection should be east of the area by 10am. .SUNDAY... The remainder of Sunday should remain dry with the next chance of showers and storms waiting for the possible approach of another MCV. Some guidance has a cluster of storms in central South Dakota clipping far northeastern Nebraska / northern Iowa by early Monday morning. The likelihood of that coming to fruition and actually bringing severe weather seems low this far out, but the SPC does have our area highlighted in a "marginal" threat of severe weather (5%+) (category 1 of 5). This would affect Nebraska/Iowa early Monday morning. Monday, beyond a 10-15% chance of convection before sunrise, should be mostly dry. Temps should begin within a stone`s throw of 70F and hit a maximum either in the upper 80s or lower 90s. More convection is possible late Monday night, too (15-25%). This also looks to be tied to the isentropic upglide (WAA) produced by the LLJ and that front that`s still expected to be hung up along Husker/Jayhawk battle lines. .THE REST OF THE WEEK...MORE OF THE SAME... The remainder of the forecast remains unsettled with regular opportunities for showers and thunder. Mesoscale features could bring afternoon showers and thunderstorms, but best chances continue to wait for the nocturnal setup of the moist boundary layer lift provided by the Great Plains LLJ. Tuesday night`s chances sit at 20- 40%. Machine learning algorithms suggest a 15%+ chance of severe weather. Wednesday night`s chances are the best of the week at 50-75% as a sfc low ejects northeast out of the Rockies. This is the day that the WPC highlights a 5%+ chance of flash flooding. NBM QMD probabilities suggest a 50% chance of 1" of QPF from 00Z Thursday to 00Z Friday in the Omaha metro area (less elsewhere). Thursday and Friday`s PoPs aren`t far behind those "likely`s" of Wednesday night. With the extra cloud cover and possible shower activity, temps will slip to near normal on Wednesday and cooler yet (70s) on Thursday, Friday, and into the weekend. Maybe the cooler weather is what you need to get in the mood for "back to school" sales or setting up your fantasy football draft. The WPC is on board with the NBM`s prognostication, leaving the area leaning cooler and wetter than normal in its 6-10 day outlooks (8/14- 8/18). && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/... Issued at 537 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026 Fog has overspread the KOFK terminal early this morning resulting in IFR/LIFR visibility and ceiling restrictions. Conditions will improve rapidly after sunrise with VFR conditions expected at all terminals for the remainder of the period. There could be a few clouds lingering at 1,500 to 3,000 feet at KOFK but likely will remain in VFR. Low level wind shear at KOMA and KLNK will end within the next two hours. Winds remain under 10 kts for the majority of the period, switching clockwise throughout the day as a front moves through. There is a small 10% chance for a stray shower or storm to clip KOFK in the next 1 to 4 hours, but likely scenario is that the terminal stays dry. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Nicolaisen AVIATION...Castillo