Fourth of July storms moving in late could impact firework shows

Most of eastern Nebraska is expected to stay dry for the Fourth of July. Storm chances increase later tonight, overnight and into Saturday morning.

Initially, it’ll be another muggy and hot day with more of a breezy south wind.

Temperatures will be climbing toward about 90 in the afternoon, with more clouds for the second part of the day.

The next three days for the holiday weekend high temperatures will stay right around 90 degrees.

With storms crossing from west to east across the state on Friday, there is a low-end risk for severe weather. A Marginal (Level 1 of 5) risk covers about the entire state of Nebraska, except for us in the southeast. The main threat with storms will be damaging wind.

Here’s the latest timing with Stormcast below. A main line of storms starting to organize by Friday afternoon will move east into central Nebraska for Friday evening and night.

Timing of storms could impact Seward celebrations and their firework display with storms in the area by about 9-11PM tonight. Storm chances for far eastern Nebraska look better after midnight into Saturday morning.

There will be some dry time after about 10-11 a.m. Saturday before another afternoon round will be possible. The threat of severe weather is mainly off to the east Saturday with Omaha sitting on the edge of another Marginal risk. Damaging wind again would be the primary concern.

Storms would form around I-80 but move south through the afternoon and evening in a window from about 3-8 p.m. Saturday.

The risk for severe weather does increase toward Chadron and Scottsbluff in northwest Nebraska elsewhere on Saturday with both hail and wind threats on the table.

Sunday looks fairly dry as temperatures continue to stay right around 90° through the holiday weekend and early next week.

Meteorologist Jessica Blum 
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