Quite Mild On Friday, But Then Much Colder For The Weekend

Highs once again today got into the 40’s north and 50’s southwest, which was higher than I anticipated yesterday when I forecasted 30’s north and 40’s to near 50 southwest. A cold front I had expected to move through the area this morning just did not have enough push to get through Greater Nebraska, and became stalled over northeastern Nebraska instead. But I don’t believe there were many complaints about the milder temperatures.

This evening will be nice for the Courthouse Lighting with partly to mostly cloudy skies and temperatures around 40 at about 6pm, falling into the 30’s this evening, then down into the 20’s during the overnight.

Then Friday will be the mildest day in this string we’ve enjoyed since Wednesday, with highs from the 40’s north to near or over 60 southwest. I am expecting lots of clouds, but if we get more sunshine during the afternoon highs in several areas could approach 60. But that will be the end of the mild weather for a while.

An arctic cold front will cross the region during Friday afternoon from north to south, and this will begin to usher in much colder air that is lurking just to our north over the Dakotas, where highs stayed in the single digits and teens over North Dakota today. The arctic intrusion may be accompanied by a few flurries Friday night and Saturday as lows bottom out in the teens north and 20’s south Friday night, and rise only into the 20’s north and low 30’s south on Saturday.

By Saturday night, the cold will be well entrenched across the area as a strong arctic high drops into the Dakotas, and as an upper disturbance drops southeastward across Greater Nebraska it will likely set off snow showers, and there could be some accumulation during Saturday night and Sunday, so stay tuned to later forecasts for updates, especially if you have travel plans during the weekend. Lows Saturday night will be in the teens and highs Sunday will remain in the 20’s to some low 30’s.

Monday will continue to be cold with perhaps a few flurries as highs struggle to get into the 30’s. Then as the arctic highs begins to shift eastward, temperatures will begin to slowly moderate Tuesday through Thursday, with highs reaching into the 40’s by Thursday. We may see another shot of cold air sometime next weekend, but more on that next week.

So enjoy the mild temperatures Friday, and if you need to do any outside decorating, Friday will be a good day to take care of this since the weekend will be much colder.

Mike