Kearney, Nebraska 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

110
FXUS63 KGID 192016
AFDGID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
316 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Unseasonable record-breaking warmth continues through
  Saturday.

- A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Saturday and Saturday
  night.

- Dry conditions are favored to continue through the end of
  March. Above normal temperatures also likely favored through
  the end of the month.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 246 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Mostly sunny skies and well above normal temperatures prevailed
across the region this afternoon. Temperatures so far have been
running 3-5 degrees above yesterdays hourly readings, with
record high temperatures for both Hastings and Grand Island this
afternoon well within reach.

With high pressure persisting aloft, expect warm and dry
conditions to continue through Saturday, with similar
temperatures across the region tomorrow (maybe 1-2 degrees
cooler based on 850MB temps), followed by temperatures surging
on Saturday ahead an approaching cold front. In fact, high
temperatures Saturday will likely set new all time record high
temperatures - by several degrees - for the entire month of
March!

As the front approaches on Saturday, expect an uptick in winds
as well, which combined with the hot and dry airmass will result
in critical fire weather conditions. Currently there is a fire
weather watch for Saturday - but fully expect this to eventually
be upgraded to a Red Flag warning sometime either later tonight
or on Friday.

As the front crosses the area on Sunday, expect a fairly notable
drop in temperatures for Sunday and Monday, with high
temperatures forecast to only top out in the 60s and 70s, or
still about 10 degrees above seasonal norms. In fact, expect the
upper level ridge to restrengthen across the local area again
behind this front, with a potential return to additional record
high temperatures by next Wednesday.

In short, unseasonable warm and dry conditions are favored to
finish out the month of March across the local area, with
little signal in model ensembles for any significant
precipitation chance or chance of a significant cool-down
across the local area for at least the next 10-14 days.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1158 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

High confidence VFR conditions anticipated through the period.

Expect some passing high clouds and good VSBYs through the
period with winds being the main focus. Light west
northwesterly winds...less than 8 KTS...are anticipated through
the afternoon hours with near calm winds expected overnight as
the atmosphere decouples. Could see some very marginal LLWS
towards daybreak Friday as the pressure gradient tightens up
just a bit, with light northwesterly winds...near 10 kts...re-
establishing themselves across the area by the late morning
hours Friday.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 1158 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Potential Record Warm Maximum Temperatures:

Today, Thursday March 19   Forecast High Record Max/Year
Hastings                        86               84 (1921)
Grand Island                    85               86 (1921)

Friday March 20            Forecast High     Record Max/Year
Hastings                        87               82 (1939)
Grand Island                    86               84 (1921)

Saturday March 21          Forecast High     Record Max/Year
Hastings                        94               87 (1910)
Grand Island                    93               83 (1988)

Wednesday March 25         Forecast High     Record Max/Year
Hastings                        84               85 (1956)
Grand Island                    85               88 (1910)

***Note: The all-time March max temperature is 90 degrees
at both Grand Island and Hastings***

Potential Record Warm Minimum Temperatures:

Friday March 20            Forecast Low    Record Warm Min/Year
Hastings                        47               46 (2011)
Grand Island                    46               50 (1921)

Saturday March 21          Forecast Low    Record Warm Min/Year
Hastings                        48               47 (2012)
Grand Island                    47               54 (1911)

Temperature records for Hastings date back to 1907 and they
date back to 1895 for Grand Island.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through late Saturday
     night for NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087.
KS...Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through late Saturday
     night for KSZ005>007-017>019.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Rossi
AVIATION...Rossi
CLIMATE...NWS Hastings