Very Warm To Hot One More Time

Last year at this time, Greater Nebraska was getting ready for its first snowstorm of the season. This year, we are getting ready for one more very warm to even record hot day tomorrow!

High pressure over the mid-Mississippi Valley has already boosted temperatures into the 80’s over much of Greater Nebraska today, and will raise highs to near or over record levels Friday afternoon with mostly sunny skies. The record for North Platte tomorrow is 89 set in 1893, and with a predicted high in the upper 80’s, that record is within reach.

But Friday will be the last very warm day until perhaps next Spring. A cool front will approach the area from the west later in the day, and this front could spark isolated showers and thunderstorms. Anyone involved in local sports events Friday evening should monitor weather forecasts through the day Friday, since while widespread activity is not anticipated, any local thunderstorms could cause some delays.

The front will move through Friday night with a continued chance of isolated showers and storms, as lows fall into the 40’s under partly cloudy skies. Then our attention will turn towards an upper-level low currently over the West. This low has been cut-off from the main jet-stream for the last few days, so it has not moved much. But it is beginning to open up and move slowly, and it will ultimately move across Nebraska during the weekend. This low will cause skies to be partly sunny, and isolated showers and perhaps even a thunderstorm are possible, especially across northern parts of the viewing area Saturday into Sunday. Highs will be much cooler than Friday, remaining mainly in the 70’s, and possible even the 60’s in some areas.

The beginning of next week will be much cooler with highs mainly in the 60’s, and as another front moves through Tuesday we could see more showers. Areas that have not seen a first freeze yet this season may see one Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as temperatures are expected to fall into the lower 30’s, so stay tuned to later forecasts for this possible freeze.

Mike