Wilcox, NE 68982 Weather

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas.

Day one

This Evening and Tonight.

- Possible fog concerns: Through the evening and overnight hours, areas of at least light fog: along with possible pockets of dense fog reducing visibility to around 1/4 mile or less: could develop primarily within our Nebraska counties along and especially north of Interstate 80.

- Thunderstorm potential: Through roughly 4 AM Saturday morning, mainly spotty/isolated and weak thunderstorms could occur almost anywhere in our forecast area.

Days two through seven

Saturday through Thursday.

- Potential for strong thunderstorms and strong winds early next week: Late Sunday night through Monday evening, thunderstorm chances return to our entire area. Although still a few days away and thus subject to some forecast uncertainties, it currently appears that especially eastern portions of our forecast area could see a few strong to perhaps even severe storms.

This same storm system also appears that it will bring fairly strong winds to our area, both from the south-southeast during the day Monday, and then from the north-northwest Monday night into Tuesday. The overall-strongest winds are currently projected to occur with the north-northwest winds on the backside of the system, with sustained speeds of at least 30 MPH, and gusts of at least 40-50 MPH.

More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings

: Aviation and Key Messages Update:

Key messages

- Pockets of fog (some localized dense?) could impact primarily counties along and especially north of I-80 this evening- overnight.

- Scattered showers/ a few weak storms are possible tonight into Saturday, though this does not look to be a complete washout.

- A stronger system moves into the area next week bringing more rain to the area, along with the POSSIBILITY for a few stronger thunderstorms (Monday) and fairly strong north- northwest winds gusting 40-50 MPH (mainly Mon night-Tuesday day).

Update

Issued at 306 AM CDT Fri Oct 30 2026

Low stratus resides over the area this morning with temperatures currently in the 50s. A low level jet has aided the development of scattered showers/storms across mainly east/southeastern portions of the area. These showers/storms are favored to increase in coverage over the next few hours, but remain focused on east/southeast portions of the area. Fog is currently confined to far southwestern portions of the area (Plainville-Cambridge). Around sunrise, fog increases in coverage over the area as it begins to lift north. The exact density of this fog lifting north is uncertain at this time, but some sub 1 mile fog is plausible. Scattered showers/storms decrease in coverage during the late morning-afternoon, with most areas favored to be dry this afternoon. Widespread low cloud coverage prevents most areas from seeing a notable temperature rise this afternoon, with highs in the upper 50s-60s across central/northwestern portions of the area. The exception will be across far southeastern portions of the area (closest to a stationary front) where highs may peak in the low 70s. The next round of rain lifts into the area from the southwest this evening- tonight. This round of rain is favored to be more widespread than today/current rain, but not everywhere may see rain. Fog chances continue tonight, mainly for areas north of Interstate 80.

The coverage of showers/storms decreases throughout the day on Saturday, but at least isolated showers are likely to linger throughout the day. This results in a seasonable-seasonably cool day with highs in the mid 50s to mid 60s. Winds on Saturday will be breezy, gusting 20-25mph. Off and on rain chances continue into Sunday morning, though low instability may keep rain as showers rather than weak thunderstorms. Highs on Sunday will be in the upper 50s to upper 60s with southeasterly winds of 10-15mph. More robust/deeper troughing moves into the Plains next week, bringing another round of rain to the area. While there remains some spread in model guidance on the exact evolution of the trough/associated surface low, the highest chance for rain is Sunday night-Monday, with chances decreasing during the day on Tuesday as the low moves into the Midwest.

Discussion

Issued at 413 PM CDT Thu Oct 29 2026

Currently through tonight:

Been an overall quiet day across the area today: though satellite imagery shows a stark contrast in sky cover from north to south. Low-level stratus that started working its way into the area late last night has remained stubbornly in place over southern half, keeping skies overcast: vs the northern half which has had no shortage of sun. Looking aloft, flow across the region remains west- southwesterly: with broad ridging over much of the southeastern CONUS, while a stronger area of low pressure is making its way into the Pac NW region. To our south-southwest, satellite imagery showing a shortwave disturbance making its way north through the TX/NM/Mex border region. The overall surface pattern is on the weaker side: the main frontal boundary is draped from WSW-ENE across central KS, with weak high pressure centered over the Dakotas. This has kept winds easterly across the area today, with speeds mainly 10- 15, with an occasional gust closer to 20 MPH. Western portions of north central KS have been struggling to even get to 60 today, rest of the area has been more in the mid 60s.

This evening and tonight: still have the potential for some precipitation to work it way NNE through the region, driven by increasing warm air/moisture advection as the low-level jet ramps up. Models not showing any overly strong LLJ, generally around 30kts, and even at this point still showing some differences with just how much coverage there ends up being. Expecting coverage to be on the scattered side of things: with models still focusing the better chances mainly near/east of HWY 281. Can't rule out some of this activity being thunderstorms with instability also building back north with time: and a stronger storm is not out of the question, but the overall threat for severe weather remains low.

Friday through the weekend:

Some of this activity from tonight may linger across especially eastern areas to start off the day on Friday: but most models show a lull between this round and the next working in later in the day. Really hasn't been any significant changes with models through Friday, with the main focus being that above mentioned upper level disturbance over TX/NM/Mex: which will continue trekking northward with time, roughly reaching into srn KS by evening. Still some differences between models with the timing of the main shield of precipitation reaching the southern edge of the forecast area: could be seeing at least scattered activity already by mid-late afternoon, with the better chances looking to focus mainly after 00Z into the overnight hours. Some models are also showing the chance that this system weakens slightly as it pushes north through the area: potentially diminishing the overall coverage of activity with time. Similar to tonight: instability in the area keeps the threat for thunderstorms around, but the threat for severe weather remains low. Higher dewpoints/better moisture building in will help any activity being efficient rain-makers: so any spots that have a stronger storm or any training could pick up at least an inch of rain through Friday night.

Confidence in precipitation chances for the upcoming weekend are not high: with models difference with the timing of this latest system working east of the area and when precip wanes. Some models are pretty slow, keeping the potential for at least scattered preciptiation around much of/if not all of the day on Saturday, a few lingering even longer. Forecast currently has much of the day Sunday dry with some weak shortwave ridging moving through: but any break would likely be brief, as chances ramp back up Sunday night.

As far as temperatures go, not looking at any notable swings: but with the plentiful precip chances and potential cloud cover make for a lower confidence forecast. Expecting highs generally in the 60s Fri-Sun: depending on precip timing into the daytime hours, some spots may struggle to even get to 60.

New work week:

Main story Sunday night, and moreso into Monday- Tuesday: continues to lie with the next upper level storms system working onto the Plains. Models remain in generally decent agreement big picture-wise with the upper level pattern through the weekend: showing the low pressure system currently over the Pac NW digging south as it shifts east: by 12Z Monday showing the main troughing working through the Rockies. Still plenty of differences between models beyond then, with how the pattern evolves as the system moves through the Plains: with recent runs having trended more toward a messy passage, and instead of one solid low, there is the potential for a few embedded vort maxes in the overall troughing. Recent trends have shown the potential for a first push of more widespread precipitation late Sunday night into the daytime hours Monday: with chances perhaps more scattered in nature Monday night into Tuesday as the main trough axis/various embedded lobes make the main push east through the Plains. Confidence in the finer details this far out remains pretty low: will be interesting to see how models trend in the coming days.

Aviation

Issued at 115 PM CDT Fri Oct 30 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

- General overview (including winds): Although confidence is high that sub-VFR ceiling will prevail through at least the vast majority of the period (along with perhaps brief sub-VFR visibility), the tricky part is determining the timing in shifts between MVFR/IFR categories. As for rain chances, at least light patchy drizzle will be possible at almost any time, with a somewhat better chance for at least spotty showers/weak thunderstorms occurring at least in the general area especially after 03Z. Turning to winds, no major concerns anticipated as sustained speeds through the vast majority of the period will be at-or-below 10KT as direction shifts from mainly southeasterly this afternoon-evening, to more south-southeasterly Saturday morning into the afternoon. The overall-strongest speeds kick in very late in the period (mainly after 15Z), with gusts to around 20KT likely.

- Ceiling/visibility and precipitation details/uncertainty: Right out of the gate this afternoon, KGRI is hanging onto IFR ceiling, while KEAR is riding the IFR/low-end MVFR breakpoint. In short, have maintained a mix of IFR/MVFR ceiling throughout the remainder of the period, with the bulk of IFR focused this evening-overnight. Any threat for any sustained visibility reductions in light fog appear to concentrate at least slightly north of KGRI/KEAR, but cannot completely rule out brief MVFR visibility in transient light fog/drizzle and/or passing showers (currently confined to PROB30 groups). Speaking of PROB30 groups, have gone with several hours of PROB30 mainly for spotty rain shower/weak thunderstorm activity centered on 03-15Z, but cannot rule out some shower activity extending beyond this.

Watches, warnings and advisories

NE: None. KS: None.