Brian Neben, Courtesy
KEARNEY — Warming temperatures are expected through mid-week with highs topping out on Wednesday, while the next precipitation chances come during that evening.
Weather models remain in good agreement that the upper-level ridge of high pressure will continue pushing east of the area, with southerly flow building into the Plains ahead of another storm system moving inland from the West Coast, according to the National Weather Service – Hastings.
Due to a pressure gradient, winds will increase to 15-20 mph during the daytime. Speeds are expected to increase even more into the evening hours as surface low pressure continues to strengthen over eastern Colorado.
Sustained speeds look to be around 25-30 mph with gusts over 40 mph during the overnight hours.
Wednesday night into Thursday brings the return of precipitation chances to the area as a lead shortwave trough associated with the board western trough looks to swing northeast through the region.
There is a 30-40 percent chance of precipitation mainly focused along and north of Interstate 80. There will not be much notable precipitation, which should fall as rain.
Friday and into the evening look to be dry, but there will be the potential for another upper-level disturbance to swing through the region next weekend. There is a 20 percent chance for precipitation on Saturday.
“Chances stay in the 20-30 percent range on through Sunday, as there are model differences whether this system impacts our area or swings further south into the Southern Plains, so not a lot of confidence at this time,” NWS Hastings noted.
The colder air mass expected to be in place will bring better potential for snow to the forecast. However, even the favorable models keep the probability of one inch or more of snow in the 10-30 percent range.
