317 FXUS63 KGID 081127 AFDGIDArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hastings NE 627 AM CDT Wed Oct 8 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Beyond the influence of a nearby passing shower today, friday or Saturday night, the rest of this week is destined to stay dry.
- One last day today of fall-like temperatures (60s highs) with highs ranging the mid 70s to mid 80s through the rest of the week and weekend.
- An upper level disturbance could bring a few showers and storms to the area Sunday night through next Wednesday (15-30% chances each day).
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 346 AM CDT Wed Oct 8 2025
We find ourselves today beneath an expansive ridge whose axis currently resides just along the eastern most extent of the Rocky Mountains. This feature is expected to prevail aloft through the rest of the week, dominating the synoptic pattern. Its presence will ultimately assist in warming temperatures through the rest of the week as well as shielding the area from any organized precipitation system. As result, our chance of precipitation lies below 20% for all areas through Saturday. A sprinkle or brief light shower can`t be completely written off today/tonight as well as a potential nearby shower clipping a portion of the area Friday or Saturday night. In reality most places should remain dry.
The surface high pressure center along the western Great Lakes region today expands its furthest extent down into a good portion of Central Nebraska and Kansas. This feature`s presence over the last day or so has previously keeps winds light and mainly calm. A surface trough, however, is expected to stretch down in from eastern Montana to Western Nebraska today, brushing up against this higher pressure. Winds as a result from these features will blow out of the south up to 15-20MPH with gusts as high as 25-30MPH possible. The strongest/gustiest winds will be concentrated slightly towards areas lying closer to western Nebraska. Meanwhile, a fairly covered deck of clouds is expected to continue to lift up from Western Kansas, covering in most of the sun later today and helping limiting highs to the 60s again for this afternoon. Be sure to soak in these fall like temperatures as highs should bump back up to the mid 70s to low 80s through the rest of the week.
Higher pressure will gradually pass the baton over to the surface trough on Thursday. This should keep the gusty southerlies around during the daytime. Temperatures will respond quickly from clearing skies and the continuing presence of the warm southerly transporting winds. Highs for Thursday are forecast to reach the mid 70s to low 80s. Though winds will lighten some Friday with directions turning more eastward (ESE) from the breakdown of the surface trough, highs should still remain fairly stable (upper 70s to low 80s). In terms of sky conditions, a few clouds may return the second half of the day Friday from out of the west. A few non-zero PoPs (10-15%) return to our northwest fringes Friday night and toward our far northern areas Saturday night. These minor chances fall as a few nearby showers could approach a limited portion of the area.
The biggest pattern change will take place over the weekend as a Northwest Pacific trough closes in on the Northern Rockies. The main forecast problem of the week will be in regards to assessing the timing and positioning of this upper-level disturbance. Both factors will be pivotal to the precipitation and temperature forecast for early next week. As of the latest long-range global model guidance, a few showers/storms Sunday night could be feasible as the leading trough pivots across the Northern Plains. The placement of the trough axis, however, looks to be just too far northwest of the region to suggest widespread activity in the area (15-20% chance).
On the other hand, a second snap of the trough potentially occurring Tuesday, should likely cover a further southern footprint, increasing the potential of precipitation up to 20-30% for the area. In all, there is several details that are still to be deciphered from in forecasting how this system is going to progress. As far as temperatures go, highs may take a 10-15 degree hit back to the upper 60s to mid 70s Monday behind the first trough. Possibilities of temperatures thereafter widen as more variables come into play with the second shortwave trough.
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.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 616 AM CDT Wed Oct 8 2025
For KGRI/KEAR Airports:
A few clouds have already started to build in from the south with more coverage on the way later this morning. Ceilings may get as low as 5-6kft, lasting through most of the day and night. Cloud bases are not expected to enter MVFR conditions. Winds will be expected to pick up through the morning, peaking between 17-23z around 15kts and gusting as high as 20-25kts. The chance for precipitation is very low, although a sprinkle or two may still be possible (15-20% chance).
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.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. KS...None.
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DISCUSSION...Stump AVIATION...Stump
NWS GID Office Area Forecast Discussion