Pivot at sunset, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — The summer heat arrives today and Thursday as temperatures are expected to reach the 90s and the heat index will hit the 100s.
According to the National Weather Service – Hastings, a weak surface low pressure area will develop in the Nebraska Panhandle. The result will be a tightened pressure gradient across the central Plains, causing southerly winds to increase.
By late morning, south-southwest winds are expected to be sustained at 20-25 mph with gusts to 30-35 mph.
The southerly winds will likely bring little relief as temperatures will reach into the mid and upper 90s and the heat index value will reach the 100s in some places on Wednesday afternoon.
Overnight lows will remain warm, with the upper 60s in south central Nebraska.
A cold front will move across the area Wednesday night and Thursday, and cool conditions down a touch across the local area. To the south, near the state line and north central Kansas, the heat index will see values of 100 to 105 degrees.
By Friday, an upper-level low pressure area over California will split the building ridge of high pressure over the northern and southern Plains, evolving into an upper-level trough feature.
Ahead of this feature, a pronounced shortwave will bring strong chances for thunderstorms across the local area on Friday. The Storm Prediction Center had the area under a Slight Risk for severe weather in their day three outlook.
With strong instability and deep layer wind shear, storms could be severe with the threat for large hail and damaging winds.
“Models indicate very heavy rainfall with these storms as well, so we will need to keep an eye on the potential for localized flooding,” NWS Hastings stated.
Some of this activity could linger into Saturday afternoon as the upper-level trough continues through the area.
