Record warmth in Lincoln expected with extreme fire danger across Nebraska
We are easily in for the warmest day of 2025 yet. Temperatures will warm to about 80 degrees Monday afternoon.
That would be a new record high temperature in Lincoln for this date: March 10th. The old record is 78° set back in 2014.
Gusty west and southwest winds will increase especially by the afternoon. Count on southwest-west winds gusting around 25-35 mph in eastern Nebraska, higher out in the Panhandle.
The warm temperatures, low humidity, strong winds and dry vegetation out there will make for extreme fire danger across most of the state today. A Red Flag Warning is in place from noon Monday through the evening hours. Listen to any burn bans that may be in place by your local officials.
This week will be well above average for temperatures heading into the middle of March. A cold front late Monday night will knock temperatures back about 20 degrees for Tuesday, but then we warm up quickly again.
It looks like a spring forecast with rain likely and possible thunderstorms by the end of the week.
Another very strong spring system will deepen Friday, with severe weather potential on one side and winter weather on the other.
For us, rain looks likely with some thunderstorms possible in eastern Nebraska the second half of Friday. Blustery winds will come with this system once again, gusting around 40-45 mph and increasing fire danger again.
An early look at what a long-range model shows through Stormcast can be seen below:
Snow from western Nebraska will try to mix in by early Saturday before exiting, especially through northeast Nebraska as the system lifts northeast.
The severe weather potential will mainly be off to the east for eastern Iowa down through Texas and Louisiana for Friday late afternoon into the overnight hours.
The outlook for Day 5 from the Storm Prediction Center is below.
Friday and Saturday will be impactful days to watch for updates as we get closer.
Meteorologist Jessica Blum
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