Thunderstorms Return Tonight Through Wednesday, Then Some Fall-like Weather Before A Summer-like Holiday Weekend

Today’s nice weather was in stark contrast to the stormy weather that struck parts of Greater Nebraska, yesterday afternoon and evening, and the front that helped generate yesterday’s storms looks like it is coming back for an encore performance.

The front currently extends from the northeastern corner of Nebraska southwestward to the southwestern corner of Kansas, and the front will basically stall this evening across northern Kansas before coming northward across Nebraska during Wednesday. It will then come back southeastward Wednesday night. As the front wavers north and south, showers and thunderstorms will likely develop, first over southern areas later tonight, then into all areas tomorrow afternoon and evening when the most widespread activity is expected. A few of these storms could be strong, and the Storm Prediction Center has places Greater Nebraska in a slight risk of severe storms for Wednesday.

So after perhaps a few isolated showers this evening, especially over northern parts of the viewing area, we can expect partly cloudy skies with the risk of isolated thunderstorms after midnight across southern areas. Lows will be in the 50’s.
Wednesday will feature mostly cloudy skies with the chance of isolated storms during the morning, but more widespread activity could develop during the afternoon and evening with highs in the lower 80’s.

Any thunderstorm activity will diminish during Wednesday night as the front presses to our south with lows in the 50’s under partly cloudy skies.

Then Thursday and Friday will be very pleasant with sunshine and highs in the 70’s, though Thursday could be quite windy. Nights will be fall-like, especially overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning when lows bottom out well into the 40’s, with even some 30’s possible under clear skies.

But a warm-up will begin for the Labor Day Holiday weekend as highs reach the upper 80’s to middle 90’s across the region through the period, with abundant sunshine. So it looks like we will close out the unofficial end of summer on a beautiful note.

Mike

Storm Ending Early, Then Nice Tuesday Before More Storms Tuesday Night

Severe thunderstorms that developed around mid-afternoon and affected Southwestern and South-Central counties from Hitchcock northeastward to Custer will move out of the viewing area by early this evening. These storms produced wind gusts up to 60mph that blew a roof off a building in McCook in Hitchcock County, that then landed on a truck, and downed 4 to 8 inch diameter tree branches in Stockville and Curtis in Frontier County.

A cool front will push through Greater Nebraska overnight and stall over Northern Kansas by Tuesday evening, and this could set off a couple more isolated strong storms until about midnight, but skies will then clear by morning with lows near 60.
Tuesday will be a nice late summer day with mostly sunny skies and light winds with highs in the middle 80’s.

But the front to our south and an impulse riding eastward along it will reintroduce the threat of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow night and Wednesday, especially across southern parts of the viewing area. Some of these storms could be strong to severe. These storms will move out of the region by Wednesday night.

Then high pressure will build into the area from the west, and should remain in control from Thursday through the Labor Day weekend. Skies will be sunny to mostly sunny, and temperatures will start off a bit below average Thursday and Friday with highs from the upper 70’s to lower 80’s, but will warm to above average for the weekend with highs from the middle 80’s to lower 90’s. So overall the long Labor Day Weekend is looking quite summerlike, and should be ideal for any outdoor plans.

Mike

Sunny, Breezy And Hot Weekend Ahead

Sunshine, hot temperatures, very low humidity and gusty winds created ripe Fire Weather conditions today, and similar conditions will prevail over the weekend, though a slight increase in humidity may reduce Fire Weather conditions.

Both days of the weekend will feature sunshine, though there may be a few clouds on Sunday. Also, breezy south to southeasterly winds gusting up and over 30mph will continue. Highs will be generally in the lower to middle 90’s region wide, though eastern areas may stay in the 80’s while a few places in western and northern areas could hit the upper 90’s. Nights will be clear and comfortable with lows in the 60’s.

The next chance of thunderstorms will com on Monday as a cold front approaches and passes through by Tuesday. Highs will still approach 90 on Monday before dropping back into the 80’s Tuesday.

Mike

Fire Weather Threat Increased

We can expect more sunny, dry and warm to hot weather through the weekend.

In addition, breezy to windy conditions could lead to critical Fire Weather, especially Friday, and Fire Weather Watches are in effect for northern and western Cherry County, and all of Grant, Arthur, and Keith counties for Friday afternoon and evening where relative humidity could fall to or below 15%. However, caution is advised across all of Greater Nebraska and anyone working with anything that could quickly ignite the dry brush should use extreme caution. Highs Friday will range from the upper 80’s across the southeast to the mid and perhaps upper 90’s across western and northern areas.
During the weekend, highs may be a bit cooler across northern and western areas but will generally still be in the lower to middle 90’s, along with low humidity though humidity may increase a bit during Sunday.

A cool front will approach Monday and perhaps spark a couple of thunderstorms, but highs will still remain around the 90 degree mark.

If you happen to be travelling to the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island, you can expect sunny, breezy and dry conditions Friday through the weekend with highs ranging from 85 to 90.

Mike

Warmer Temperatures On The Way

The beat goes on with the great weather, and will continue to go on through the weekend but with warmer temperatures.

After a quite cool night where lows fell well into the 40’s, highs rebounded today into the 80’s with lots of sun on southwesterly winds. The southerly flow will continue for the next several days, and strengthen so that tomorrow into the weekend will be quite breezy with wind gusts topping 30mph at times. This may increase the fire weather danger as warm to hot temperatures, coupled with very low humidity and the gusty winds, dry out brush making conditions prime for any spark or flame to start wildfires.

But first for tonight, skies will be clear and it will still be cool with lows near 50, but some lows will likely fall into the 40’s once again.

Thursday and into the weekend will be clear and sunny and quite breezy as highs reach the lower to perhaps middle 90’s across Greater Nebraska.

The next chance for any thunderstorms will come Monday night as a cold front approaches from the northwest.

Mike

Fall-like Tonight, But Summer Returns By Tomorrow Afternoon

After a spectacular day weather-wise today, it will feel a bit like fall by tomorrow morning. But summer will return beginning tomorrow afternoon.

High pressure building into Greater Nebraska from the Northwest will retain control of our weather through at least the weekend. For tonight, it will bring clear skies and light to calm winds, both of which will allow temperatures to quickly fall into the 40’s by morning.

But as the high moves to our east, a southwesterly flow of air will begin, and temperatures will gradually become warmer through the weekend. Sunny skies and a light southwesterly wind tomorrow will boost highs into the middle 80’s, and by Thursday, highs will approach or exceed the 90 degree mark in parts of the region.

Friday and the weekend will continue to be bright and sunny, and highs will top our near the 90 degree mark. Humidity levels will remain low through the weekend, especially Friday and Saturday, and as a breeze picks up it will raise the threat of Fire Weather conditions during that time.

The next chance of thunderstorms looks to be around Monday night and Tuesday as humidity increases a bit, and upper-level disturbances allow for some development, but right now the threat appears minimal. Highs may cool a bit by Tuesday into the middle 80’s, but overall Greater Nebraska will be in a warmer than average weather pattern after tomorrow.

Mike

Beautiful Week Ahead With A Hint Of Fall Early

A cold front pushing through Great Nebraska this evening will produce a few light showers through early tonight, then the rest of the week will be beautiful with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures before it begins to warm up on Thursday.

The showers have been affecting mainly our northern and central counties through the afternoon, though isolated showers or sprinkles could affect southwestern counties until sunset. Clouds will dominate through the first part of the night, but clearing will begin later and by morning skies will be mostly clear. A northerly breeze gusting to 30mph will diminish through the overnight, with light northerly winds by sunrise tomorrow.

Tuesday will be beautiful with blue sunny skies and light winds with highs touching the 80 degree mark, as high pressure builds in from the Pacific Northwest.
But thoughts of fall may occur Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as clear skies and light winds allow temperatures to drop well down into the 40’s for the first time since June 15th in North Platte.

But by Wednesday temperatures will begin to rebound as high pressure moves to our east, allowing a southerly flow of warmer air to develop. Highs in the lower to middle 80’s on Wednesday will warm to the upper 80’s to lower 90’s Thursday, and these warmer readings will continue through the weekend into early next week. The next chance for any rainfall won’t be until the weekend when a trough brings a slight risk of isolated showers and thunderstorms.

Mike