High temperatures in record territory

Lincoln saw its first 80° day of the year on Tuesday, and we may see our first 90° day on Wednesday. We’re forecasting highs in the upper-80s to near 90° on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s no surprise that these temperatures are unseasonably warm. In fact, they are very close to record values. The record high on Wednesday is 91° in Lincoln, which was set last year. The record on Thursday is 89° set back in 1936. Our forecast high of 90° would break that record.

The southerly wind also increases on Wednesday, with sustained wind speeds anywhere from 20-30 mph during the afternoon. The wind is responsible for temperatures getting close to 90°, which will also lower relative humidities. The combination of dry air and strong winds will allow for dangerous fire weather conditions yet again.

We’ve already seen several wildfires start in recent days statewide. Fires can easily ignite and spread quickly on a day like this. For that reason, a Red Flag Warning is in place for all of central and eastern Nebraska on Wednesday.

We expect more of the same on Thursday, with warm and windy conditions. The pattern begins to change on Friday as a cold front approaches. We could see some storm development as the front nears, with some lingering showers into Saturday. This will set us up for a cooler weekend overall, with highs in the 50s and 60s.

Meteorologist Malcolm Byron

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Twitter: @mbyronwx