Keep your coats handy; Moderate drought nearly doubles in the state

Two cold fronts will pass through southeast Nebraska over the next 12-18 hours.  Behind the fronts, winter returns.

High temperatures for Friday – upper 40°s to low 50°s – will occur while most are asleep, between midnight and 1 a.m.  Temperatures will slowly fall in to the lower 40°s by day break Friday morning.

The second cold front, an arctic cold front, will usher in colder for the rest of Friday.  Temperatures will likely hold steady through late morning/noon, then they will start to fall through the afternoon.  By 4 p.m. Friday temperatures should range from the middle 30°s (north) to the middle 40°s (south).

Winds will play a part in the weather as well Friday.  Winds will gust 40-45 mph mid-morning through the afternoon.  I would not be surprised by a few reports of 50 mph.  This will send wind chills to the 20°s for mid-afternoon and the upper teens by early evening.  As temperatures drop to around 10° in Lincoln Saturday morning, wind chills will range from -4° to 2°.

BACK TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Lack of precipitation this year is starting to make an impact on soil conditions in both southeast Nebraska and the entire state.  For the year, Lincoln is running a 0.77″ deficit of precipitation.

The latest Drought Monitor, issued Thursday morning, increases the area included in “Moderate” drought conditions by 95% from the previous week.  Not good signs for those with agricultural interest as we head towards spring.

Dry weather will continue through the weekend and early next week.  Long range computer models are suggesting a chance for precipitation by the middle of next week, but at this distance it is hard to put too much confidence behind those suggestions.  Stay tuned!

– Chief Meteorologist John Dissauer