Turning Much Colder And Windy For The Weekend

Lexington hit 60 again today, with all other areas across Greater Nebraska reaching the 50’s for another mild day despite the clouds. And we will see mild temperatures again next week, but first we need to get through a much colder weekend.

An arctic front will move through tonight, and will put an abrupt end to our current mild spell. The front is currently extends from west-central Montana to northeastern Wyoming, then eastward over southern South Dakota where it intersects a developing area of low pressure over south-central South Dakota. The front then continues eastward into the central Great Lakes. But as the low moves eastward into Iowa later tonight and tomorrow, it will rapidly intensify and drag the cold front through the region early tonight. It will also cause very gusty northwesterly winds from 35 to 45mph in gusts from later tonight through much of Saturday, which will pull arctic air in association with a strong arctic high now over central Canada southward into the area.

In addition, the front could cause a few rain light rain showers this evening, but after the front moves through a few snow showers are possible, especially over the Sandhills where some light accumulations under one inch are possible, and there is a chance of a few slick spots this precipitation should be quite light and not cause too many problems. Lows tonight will fall into the teens by morning, but the gusty winds will make it feel much colder. Skies will be mostly cloudy.

By Saturday, the low will be causing blizzard conditions from Iowa into parts of Minnesota, but will be too far east of Greater Nebraska to produce much snow, so any morning flurries will end but it will remain quite windy with gusts 35 to 45mph, and highs will range from the teens north to the 20’s south. Skies should be partly sunny during the afternoon.

As the Iowa low continue toward the central Great Lakes, winds will begin to diminish Saturday evening, but the overnight will be very cold with lows ranging from just below zero across the north, to the single digits and low teens over Southwest Nebraska. Skies will be partly cloudy.

Sunday will be partly sunny and much less windy but still cold as the arctic highs over North Dakota and Minnesota remains in control, and highs will reach the 20’s over eastern areas to the 30’s west.

Then, as the arctic high pushes east early next week, we will see another moderating trend with highs in the 40’s to even 50’s from Monday to Wednesday under partly sunny skies. Temperatures will turn a bit cooler toward the end of next week. No big storms are in sight for at least the next week.

Mike