More like September than January; Cold front brings wind

A beautiful day around southeast Nebraska Monday.  For the first time in four days Nebraskans saw the sun and warmer temperatures.

Lincoln officially hit 49° Monday afternoon.  That was the warmest since December 23, 2020 in the state capital.  To be eve more exact, it was the warmest temperature the city had experienced in 455 hours!

A big reason for the warmer temperatures was the sun.  100% sunshine in Lincoln, making Tuesday the sunniest day of 2021.  Let’s hope we have a few more going forward in the year.

SEPTEMBER-LIKE TEMPERATURES

Unseasonable temperatures will continue for the next couple of days.  With mainly sunny skies Tuesday should be able to better Monday by 4° to 5° with highs in the lower 50°s.

The temperature will surge even higher Wednesday, not just in southeast Nebraska but through much of the northern Plains.  Temperatures are expected to be 20° to near 30° above normal.  That equates to temperatures in the middle to upper 50°s.  A couple 60° readings aren’t out of the question, especially in the central part of the state.

When temperatures surge in January we know a big drop is coming and that will be the case this time.  A cold front is projected to pass through the region late Wednesday in to Thursday morning.  Behind the cold front, temperatures will drop back to the 30°s.  There could be a few sprinkles/snow flurries as the front passes.

Perhaps the bigger story will be winds.  Long range computer models suggest winds could gust 45-60 miles per hour throughout the state Thursday and Friday.

With temperatures in the 20°s and 30°s Thursday and Friday that would mean wind chill values in the teens.  Stay tuned!

– Chief Meteorologist John Dissauer

Follow John on social media:
Twitter: @JohnDissauer
Facebook: /DissauerWx