HASTINGS — Grand Island, Hastings and areas to the east of the Tri-Cities are now under an Enhanced Risk for severe weather this afternoon into the evening.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., upgraded several areas from northeastern to southeastern Nebraska, including Grand Island and Hastings to an Enhanced Risk, a three out of five.
The remainder of central Nebraska is still under a Slight Risk, two out of five.
An Enhanced Risk means that scattered to numerous severe storms are expected, with several that could be significant. A Sligh Risk means isolated to scattered severe storms are expected, a few which could be significant.
A pronounced shortwave disturbance will move across the area, over the top of a ridge of high pressure, and this will provide the forcing mechanism for storms to occur, according to the National Weather Service – Hastings.
The environment will feature enough instability and wind shear to support strong to severe thunderstorms.
“Current expectations is for thunderstorms to initially develop as supercells this afternoon and then evolve into a line or lines of thunderstorms as they move southeast this evening,” the NWS Hastings states.
The greatest large hail threat will be realized with the supercell activity, a tornado risk is also present but on the lower end this afternoon. The damaging wind risk increases as storms become more linear.
“While the majority of the severe activity is expected to be to our north and east, but there is a
lot of uncertainty regarding how far southwest into our forecast area this reaches. The most likely timeframe for severe storms will be around 5 p.m. to midnight, but if storms are able
to develop further west and earlier, this activity could start as early as 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.,” NWS Hastings noted.
Southerly winds will bring a significant increase in moisture across the region throughout the day and some areas may see heavy rains with this system, potentially over an inch.
Temperatures will be warm ahead of an attendant cold front, mainly in the upper 80s and low 90s. The front will bring a cool down for the weekend, with mainly 70s over the weekend into next Monday.
June 2, 2024 Thunderstorm Gallery
