Hot streak into this new week, storms possible

We open up this week to more heat and humidity. The worst of it expected to be felt south of I-80 through the first half of the week. Monday, temperatures will top out near the upper 90s in Lincoln and towns south toward the Kansas border.

The humidity will make it that much worse, feeling up to 108° during the hottest periods of the afternoon. Light east winds will not be helpful.

Lincoln and Lancaster County are included in a Heat Advisory that will begin by 1 p.m. Monday afternoon, lasting until 8 p.m. this evening. Counties in orange below are expected to see the higher heat index values up to 105°, if not a bit hotter.

There is severe potential again Monday afternoon and evening. A Slight (Level 2 of 5) risk is in place, highlighting north-central Nebraska down through Thedford. All severe threats will be in play and possible this afternoon, including an isolated tornado. The main reasons behind the Slight risk is damaging winds could exceed 75 mph, and there’s a potential for large hail 2″ or larger.

Separate showers and thunderstorms in northern Kansas may try to sneak farther north nearing Beatrice, but severe risk isn’t associated with that activity today. It’ll be storms forming near Cherry County in north-central Nebraska that look to move east that will threaten all severe weather modes.

Beyond Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be very hot and humid. Heat index values could be greater than 110° into the thick of things both days.

For that reason, several counties in southeast Nebraska (in red below) are within an Excessive Heat Watch for Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.

Other than this streak of hot days, rain chances return to the forecast Tuesday evening and a decent chance on Wednesday.

Meteorologist Jessica Blum 
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