Top-notch Friday; very windy with strong storms expected Saturday
Top-notch day expected on Friday after a cool start with temperatures in the upper 20s to around 30 degrees. Winds will be fairly light until very strong winds return especially into Saturday.
Mostly sunny skies should lead to highs in the upper 60s with wind out of the east-southeast.
Husker baseball is at home tonight for a 6:05 p.m. first pitch. Winds will pick up a bit more throughout the game gusting around 20-25 mph with mild temperatures in the lower 60s.
A stronger system will deepen once it makes its way from the Rockies into Nebraska on Saturday. There’s enough to discuss about Saturday in terms of the storms, potential severe weather and wind that we’ve got another section below that has more details.
SATURDAY THREATS
Thunderstorms will be tracking through the state on Saturday, and very high winds and dangerously dry conditions will make for very high to possibly extreme fire danger. We break it all down below.
A couple lines of storms will develop first Saturday afternoon with the southwestern-most line expected to bring stronger storms farther east. That line will be nearing the Tri-Cities by the early evening, approaching Lincoln by about 7 p.m. Saturday. Storms should quickly move out Saturday night.
The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded portions of Nebraska to a Slight (Level 2 of 5) risk for more confidence in storms bringing some very strong wind and possible hail to that area.
Damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail up to quarter size will be the main concerns Saturday with this line of storms. While the primary threats will be wind and hail, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
Just before and during these storms, high winds are expected across the state on Saturday, too. South to southwest winds will be at 35-45 mph, gusting to 60 mph possible Saturday. Winds especially in central and western Nebraska are expected to potentially gust up to 60 mph on Sunday afternoon, too.
A High Wind Watch is in effect Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening for most of the state.
High winds with dangerously dry conditions will make for a very high fire danger throughout Saturday. Right now, a Fire Weather Watch is in place because of this. Fires that develop will have the potential to spread rapidly.
There will be some showers possible on Sunday as the backside of this system swings through; high temperatures cool to the lower 60s.
Meteorologist Jessica Blum
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