KEARNEY — Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across central and eastern Nebraska during the afternoon and evening hours of Thursday, Oct. 12.
A Slight Risk, a level two out of five, has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center for nearly all central Nebraska and extending east.
A large upper-level trough is ejecting into the Great Plains this morning and this action will induce the formation of a surface low pressure system in the Colorado-Kansas-Nebraska border area.
The primary threats will be hail near the size of ping pong balls, wind gusts up to 70 mph and there is an isolated tornado risk, especially in the Slight Risk area, according to the National Weather Service – Hastings.
The best chance for severe weather for the local area will be between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Current model guidance indicates a fairly robust line of storms forming on the western edge of the NWS Hastings coverage area around noon to 1 p.m.
An attendant cold front with the low-pressure system will push through the area overnight and this will cause winds to increase out of the northwest.
A High Wind Warning has been issued for Friday, Oct. 13 from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Tri-Cities and nearly all western Nebraska.
Sustained winds out of the northwest will be 30 to 45 mph with gusts up to 55 to 65 mph expected.
“Damaging winds could blow down large branches, trees and power lines. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,” NWS Hastings stated, “Use caution if you must drive.”
