Thunderstorm over Kearney on Wednesday, May 15, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — Severe thunderstorms will be possible across south central Nebraska during the evening and overnight hours, additional shower and storm chances linger through the week.
The area west of Kearney is under an Enhanced Risk, a three out of five, for severe weather during the evening of Monday, May 20. The remainder of the Nebraska is under a Slight Risk, two out of five.
Shortwave disturbances were moving through an upper-level area of low pressure and will be the trigger for the storms later in the day, per National Weather Service – Hastings.
Upper-level lift will increase tonight with fairly high instability, wind shear and mid-level lapse rates. This will contribute to storms, some of which could be severe with large hail and damaging winds being the main threats.
The bulk of the activity looks to impact the area from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.
By Tuesday, the upper-level trough of low pressure will move over the central Plains and bring a cold front across the area. High temperatures are expected to be in the low 60s to the low 80s. Showers and isolated thunderstorms could hang around for the morning hours.
There is also a Marginal Risk, a one out of five, generally along and east of Highway 281 on Tuesday, mainly during the morning hours.
For Wednesday, temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 60s and 70s while conditions will be mostly sunny with fairly light winds.
Looking ahead to Thursday, another upper-level trough will move from the northern Rocky Mountains over the northern and central Plains.
There is a 15 to 25 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms across the western third of the NWS Hastings forecast area. At this point there is uncertainty as to whether these storms will be severe.
“Rain and storm chances increase up to near 60 percent Thursday night along and ahead of a cold front that will begin moving into the area,” NWS Hastings notes.
High temperatures on Friday will be in the 70s in the wake of the cold front and lows during the evening will be in the mid-40s and mid-50s.
Temperatures will only warm slightly heading into the weekend, another upper-level trough will move over the Rockies starting on Saturday night. This increase in lift over the area will allow for increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms.
“Low temperatures Saturday night will mainly be in the 50s. Temperatures on Sunday are expected to warm up slightly from the previous day. Low temperatures Sunday night will be similar to those from the previous night,” NWS Hastings stated.
