Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Hastings, NE

554 
WWUS53 KGID 151716
SVSGID

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1216 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

NEC081-185-151745-
/O.CON.KGID.SV.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260415T1745Z/
York NE-Hamilton NE-
1216 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM CDT
FOR YORK AND SOUTHEASTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES...

At 1216 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hampton, or 13
miles west of York, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

This severe storm will be near...
  Bradshaw around 1220 PM CDT.
  York around 1230 PM CDT.
  Benedict around 1235 PM CDT.

This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 332 and 358.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Hastings.

&&

LAT...LON 4083 9746 4072 9781 4083 9802 4087 9797
      4105 9762
TIME...MOT...LOC 1716Z 236DEG 35KT 4084 9785 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

Thies

409 
WWUS53 KGID 151724
SVSGID

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1224 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

NEC081-151733-
/O.CAN.KGID.SV.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260415T1745Z/
Hamilton NE-
1224 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HAMILTON COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 4083 9746 4076 9778 4082 9782 4092 9783
      4104 9761
TIME...MOT...LOC 1723Z 241DEG 34KT 4088 9774 

$$

NEC185-151745-
/O.CON.KGID.SV.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260415T1745Z/
York NE-
1224 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM CDT
FOR YORK COUNTY...

At 1223 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Bradshaw, or 7
miles west of York, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

This severe storm will be near...
  York around 1230 PM CDT.

This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 342 and 358.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Hastings.

&&

LAT...LON 4083 9746 4076 9778 4082 9782 4092 9783
      4104 9761
TIME...MOT...LOC 1723Z 241DEG 34KT 4088 9774 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

Thies

119 
WWUS53 KGID 151737
SVSGID

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1237 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

NEC185-151745-
/O.CON.KGID.SV.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260415T1745Z/
York NE-
1237 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM CDT
FOR CENTRAL YORK COUNTY...

At 1237 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Benedict, or
near York, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

This severe storm will be near...
  Benedict around 1240 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Hastings.

&&

LAT...LON 4083 9746 4084 9762 4095 9770 4104 9761
TIME...MOT...LOC 1737Z 240DEG 33KT 4095 9759 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

Thies

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
610 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...Aviation Update...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- At least spotty, isolated thunderstorms will be possible
  almost anywhere in our forecast area today, but mostly
  favoring our Nebraska counties. The majority of this hit-or-
  miss activity should be weak. However, a few storms could
  become strong to marginally-severe (perhaps even outside of
  SPC's current official Marginal Risk area), capable of
  producing hail up to around the size of quarters, and/or wind
  gusts up to around 60 MPH.

- Following a brief respite from any truly heightened fire
  weather concerns today, outright-critical conditions return in
  earnest for Thursday for our entire forecast area (CWA), and a
  Fire Weather Watch has been issued from 12-10 PM.
  Unfortunately, a few more upcoming days could also contain
  critical fire weather concerns (see separate Fire Weather
  section below for more details).

- Although looking short of any High Wind criteria, moderately
  strong northerly gusts of 40+ MPH still look likely behind
  Friday's rather sharp cold frontal passage.

- Speaking of Friday's cold front, although we still can't
  completely declare an "all clear" for any stronger
  thunderstorm threat mainly for our extreme southeastern CWA
  for late Friday afternoon-evening, models seem to be locking
  in an a faster-versus-slower cold frontal passage, likely
  "sparing" our CWA from a more widespread severe threat that
  should focus at least slightly to our south/east.

- With spring vegetative growth roughly 3 WEEKS "ahead of
  schedule" per traditional growing degree day (GDD) metrics, we
  will probably need to issue our first Freeze Warnings and/or
  Frost Advisories of the season for Saturday AM and/or Sunday
  AM...for at least slightly-sub-freezing temperatures.

- Peeking just beyond our official 7-day forecast: Another
  large-scale low pressure system could bring some rain chances
  (great news) and MAYBE a severe thunderstorm threat (not
  great, but far from a "sure thing") around next Wednesday
  (April 22).

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 457 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

-- FORECAST CHANGES OF NOTE, BIG PICTURE COMMENTS, AND ANY
 ABBREVIATED LONGER-TERM FORECAST NOTES (for beyond Thursday):

- No truly MAJOR forecast changes to speak of versus previous
  issuance, although high temps for Friday have come down a
  good 10-ish degrees (and quite possibly not yet enough) over
  the past 24 hours as models seem to be honing in on a faster
  cold frontal passage.

- For all other longer-term-related notes, the highlights are
  covered in "Key Messages" above, and all detailed fire
  weather concerns are in a separate "Fire Weather" section
  below.

-- FOCUS SOLELY ON THE SHORTER-TERM/NEXT 36 HOURS (through
 Thursday evening):

- CURRENT/RECENT WEATHER SCENE AS OF 4 AM:
Looking back over the last 12 hours, as expected the vast
majority of our CWA was spared any severe storm threat. However,
the late afternoon-early evening hours popped a few rogue
stronger storms near/just north of a sharp front bisecting our
CWA (nickel hail reported in Hordville), while the later evening
hours (mainly 10pm-midnight) brought a less surprising, brief
flare-up of a few severe storms (including a slightly-elevated
supercell) to our far southeastern CWA (mainly affecting
Jewell/Mitchell/Thayer counties)...with these storms erupting
along the nose of a nocturnal low level jet. In the hours
since, the aforementioned strong/severe storms vacated our far
southeast counties. the vast majority of our CWA has been dry,
with only some spotty showers/brief weak storms focused mainly
north of I-80.

In the big picture of the mid-upper levels, water vapor
satellite and short term model data confirm that a large-scale
trough and associated primary low pressure system is pushing
ever-near to us, it's main vorticity max (spin) noted right over
the NE/KS/CO border area. Meanwhile, at the surface, a roughly
1002 millibar low pressure center currently resides over our
extreme southeastern CWA (Mitchell County area). To it's north
and northwest, nearly our entire CWA is thus "post-frontal",
with generally northerly breezes sustained at least 5-15 MPH.
Under a varied mix of clear skies and clouds, low temperatures
are forecast to bottom out upper 40s-mid 50s across most of our
CWA.

- TODAY-EARLY THIS EVENING (through 7-9 PM):
Aloft, the aforementioned upper trough/vort max currently to our
west will track eastward....directly overhead...over the course
of the day, reaching the IA/NE/MO border area by sunset.
Meanwhile at the surface, the low pressure center in our far
southeast CWA will steadily track/depart east-northeastward
today, reaching central IA by evening.

With our CWA positioned entirely behind the departing surface
low today (resulting in generally 10-20 MPH breezes through much
of the day, gradually shifting from more northerly to more
westerly), this will clearly "spare" us from the MAIN severe
thunderstorm risk within the greater region...particularly any
tornado risk...which will focus within the primary low-level
instability/CAPE axis extending from IA/MO southwestward into
OK/TX. HOWEVER, with residual low-mid level moisture lingering
over our area, along with cooler air aloft under the heart of
the upper low passing overhead, this is a rather classic setup
for at least a few lines/clusters of isolated-to-scattered
showers and mostly-weak thunderstorms to gradually translate
across our CWA from west-to-east over the course of the day.
While we are carrying at least slight (20%) chances for this
activity everywhere, the most concentrated coverage should focus
over our Nebraska counties. Getting back to severe potential
though, while not high, these setups often yield a FEW strong to
perhaps marginally-severe storms, and sometimes "random" funnel
clouds that rarely touch down. Whether we actually do end up
seeing a couple of rogue severe storms will likely depend on
just how much instability/CAPE can be realized, with the latest
RAP/HRRR tending to keep CAPE mainly 500 J/kg or less, while the
NAM suggests a bit higher potential for CAPE to at least
approach 1000 J/kg, which would yield a bit greater potential
for a few storms with mainly a quarter size hail and perhaps 60
MPH wind threat. This possible strong/marginally-severe storm
threat could be rather "random" in area today, and could even
start as early as mid-morning. Officially, SPC has only painted
roughly the northeast 1/4th of our CWA in it's official Marginal
Risk on the initial Day 1 outlook, but in all reality a rogue
severe storm could back into our western counties. In summary:
although sparse in coverage, a few strong to MAYBE marginally-
severe storms cannot be ruled out today, but any such threat
(including all rain chances) should exit our far eastern
counties by no later than 7-9 PM as the upper low departs.

In other departments today: confidence in "exact" high temps is
not overly-high and will depend on how much clearing is able to
occur under the passing upper wave, but ultimately kept similar
to previous forecast with most places aimed 71-74 degrees.

- THIS EVENING-OVERNIGHT:
Once the back edge of any showers/storms clear our far eastern
zones by around sunset, confidence is high in a dry overnight
under clear skies. In response to surface low pressure
developing over the Dakotas, our breezes will swing around to
south-southwesterly, but remain fairly light only around 5-10
MPH. If winds end up a little lighter than forecast, would not
be surprised to see low temps drop a little colder than
forecast, but for now we're calling for 40-46 most areas, with a
few upper 30s possible mainly in Valley/Dawson counties.

- THURSDAY DAYTIME-EARLY EVENING:
Unfortunately, our main concerns swing right back to fire
weather (see separate section below for more details). Under
plentiful sunshine, southerly winds will steadily increase
through the day as surface low pressure rapidly deepens to our
west off the Front Range/High Plains, with sustained speeds by
afternoon commonly around 20 MPH/gusts at least 25-30 MPH. The
resultant low-level warm air advection will boost high temps a
good 10-15 degrees warmer than today, with our forecast still
aiming for highs mainly 83-86 degrees. South-southeast winds
will remain elevated well into the night as the strong surface
low pressure arrives into western NE...just ahead of a strong
cold front poised to slice through Friday morning.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 251 PM CDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Today...

The SPC expanded the marginal severe weather risk area into our
forecast area along the nearly stationary boundary running from
Kearney towards York. We have seen vertical development in the
CU field around the Tri-Cities and are getting close to possible
thunderstorm development. We could see a few isolated
thunderstorms in this narrow frontal zone where moisture has
been pooling allowing dewpoints to climb to around 50F. These
will mainly be elevated thunderstorms taking advantage of the
steep lapse rates, modest MUCAPE values to around 1000 J/KG, and
very strong 0-6 km shear (65 kts). Quarter sized hail is the
primary threat, but larger DCAPE values over 1200 J/KG suggest
that strong wind gusts to 60 mph will also be possible with any
of these thunderstorms.

Tonight...

We could see some scattered showers or even an isolated
thunderstorm, but most areas will likely stay dry. However,
things could get more interesting during the day on Wednesday.

Wednesday...

The last two runs (12Z and 18Z) of the RRFS have been indicating
thunderstorm development across our western zones around dawn.
These thunderstorms then track northeast through the morning,
could impact the Tri-Cities, and exit our northeastern forecast
area early Wednesday afternoon (likely before 3 PM). Although
our forecast area is not currently outlooked for severe
weather, it is possible that the severe weather threat area may
need to be expanded to include some of our Nebraska counties.
The main threat will again be hail and wind through early
afternoon.

Breezy northwesterly winds in the afternoon along with cooler
60s behind the storm system may result in it feeling not as nice
as one might expect.

Thursday...

This is a high confidence warm day with highs back into the 80s.
It should be dry and we have some fire weather concerns, please
see the fire weather section below.

Friday Through next Weekend...

A big open wave upper trough will race across the plains, but
the timing is not favorable for our area to see much if any
precipitation. An expected Friday morning frontal passage will
likely result in falling temperatures on Friday. Our forecast
is probably too warm and would not be surprised if see some
areas falling into the 40s Friday afternoon. Even if it starts
out nice Friday morning across our southeastern zones, it
probably won't end very nice behind that cold front. Fire
weather is again a concern. Please see the fire weather section
below.

Monday and Tuesday...

The cold will be short lived and we should quickly see a warmer
weather pattern return ahead of a developing western United
States Trough. That trough could bring us some mid week rain.
We'll have to see as it's still a long ways off.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 610 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:
Although a low-end VFR ceiling (mainly at-or-above 3,500 ft.
AGL) is likely at times through especially these first 6-8
hours, and at least a brief/fleeting MVFR ceiling and/or
visibility is at least possible (any visibility reduction from
rain showers), the vast majority of the period carries high-
confidence VFR (in fact mainly clear skies for this evening-
overnight).

Precipitation-wise, a few passing showers/thunderstorms are
possible at almost any point through early evening (through
around 00Z), but have focused the MOST FAVORED time frames into
PROB30 groups currently aimed 14-20Z KEAR/15-21Z KGRI).
Although unlikely, a stronger storm with hail up to around the
size of quarters and/or gusty winds 40+KT cannot be totally
ruled out.

Finally regarding winds, although brief gusts to 20+KT are
possible at times through mid-afternoon, sustained speeds
through nearly the entire period should prevail at-or-below
12KT. There will be some directional changes...shifting from
northerly to westerly today...then going somewhat variable this
evening for a time before becoming steadier from the south
overnight.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 447 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Although spotty pockets of beneficial rain occurred overnight
and will continue into today across parts of our forecast area
(CWA), the coverage of truly appreciable rain over the coming
days continues to look pretty lackluster. As a result, and
because spring green-up has yet to fully take hold, we continue
to monitor for potentially critical fire weather conditions on
some upcoming afternoons.

- THURSDAY AFTERNOON-EARLY EVENING:
Following a brief respite from any truly heightened fire weather
concerns today, outright-critical conditions return in earnest
for Thursday for our entire forecast area (CWA). As a surface
low pressure system deepens to our west, southerly winds will
reach solidly-breeze levels...commonly sustained around 20 MPH
and gusting at least 25-30 MPH. Meanwhile, as high temperatures
again jump back up into the at least the mid-80s, relative
humidity (RH) will plunge to 10-20 percent. As a result, a Fire
Weather Watch has been issued from 12-10 PM Thursday for our
entire forecast area...running a bit later than "usual" given
that RH is expected to be slow-to-rise much above 20-30% until
after dark.

- FRIDAY AFTERNOON:
While moderately strong north winds are a certainty as a cold
front slices southward through our region (gusts at least 40 MPH
likely at times), fortunately the temperature forecast continues
to trend cooler with time...keeping RH from really "tanking". In
fact, none of our CWA is currently projected to see RH drop
below the 20% critical threshold. That being said, primarily our
KS counties could see near-critical RH down to at least 25%, so
it's still a day with some fire weather concerns.

- SATURDAY AFTERNOON:
Despite being by far the coolest day of the next week (high
temps only in the 50s most places), very dry air will
nonetheless drive afternoon RH down to at least 15-25%, while
northwest winds gusts at least 25-35 MPH. Thus, solidly near-
critical to critical conditions are currently forecast area-
wide...but overall-worst in our western half.

- SUNDAY-MONDAY:
Sunday currently looks like another "one day break" from
critical fire weather concerns, thanks mainly to somewhat-
lighter winds. However, another warm-up accompanied by gusty
south winds makes Monday another early candidate for potentially
widespread critical conditions.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday
     evening for NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087.
KS...Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday
     evening for KSZ005>007-017>019.

&&

UPDATE...Pfannkuch
DISCUSSION...Wesely
AVIATION...Pfannkuch
FIRE WEATHER...Pfannkuch

Hazardous Weather Outlook...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Hastings NE
248 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
160745-
Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance-
Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York-
Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer-
248 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and
portions of north central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Throughout most of the daylight hours today, at least spotty,
isolated thunderstorms will be possible almost anywhere in our
forecast area, but mostly favoring our Nebraska counties. The
majority of this hit-or-miss activity should be fairly weak.
However, a few storms could become strong to marginally-severe,
capable of producing hail up to around the size of quarters,
and/or wind gusts up to around 60 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

- Almost daily fire weather concerns:
Each afternoon between Thursday and Tuesday, at least near-
critical fire weather conditions are forecast develop within at
least parts of our forecast area.

Outright critical conditions are probable on at least a few days,
wherever there is a combination of wind gusts of 25 MPH or
higher, and relative humidity of 20 percent or lower. The
afternoons currently forecast to have the most widespread
critical conditions within our forecast area are Thursday,
Saturday and Monday. For Thursday, a Fire Weather Watch has been
issued for our entire forecast area for the afternoon and
early-evening hours.

- Friday strong winds and limited thunderstorm potential:
Friday into Friday evening, a strong cold front will slice
southward through our entire area, accompanied by moderately-
strong north winds, likely gusting at least 40 MPH at times.

In addition, late Friday afternoon and evening, there is a small
chance that a few thunderstorms could clip mainly the far
southeastern edges of our forecast area. Although a spotty
stronger storm cannot yet be ruled out in our far southeast
counties, it's looking increasingly likely that any potentially
widespread threat for severe storms should focus entirely south
and east of our forecast area.

- Slightly sub-freezing temperatures possible this weekend:
For those who already have concerns for freezing temperatures and
resultant impacts to gardening or irrigation systems, at least
slightly sub-freezing temperatures appear possible both Saturday
and Sunday mornings.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Although the vast majority of our forecast area will likely not
experience any severe thunderstorms today, spotters are
encouraged to report any potential instances of hail and/or
damaging wind gusts, should any occur.

&&

More information may be obtained at the following web page:
   https://www.weather.gov/hastings

Pfannkuch

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
906 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0850 AM     Hail             Fullerton               41.36N 97.98W
04/15/2026  E0.88 Inch       Nance              NE   Public

&&

NOAA/NWS/MORITZ

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
915 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0907 AM     Hail             Genoa                   41.45N 97.73W
04/15/2026  E0.88 Inch       Nance              NE   Trained Spotter

            About an inch of dime to nickel size hail on
            the deck.

&&

NOAA/NWS/MORITZ

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1200 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

NEZ063-064-151730-
Hamilton NE-York NE-
1200 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WESTERN YORK AND SOUTHEASTERN
HAMILTON COUNTIES THROUGH 1230 PM CDT...

At 1200 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Stockham, or 21 miles southeast of Grand Island, moving northeast at
40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Stockham around 1205 PM CDT.
  Henderson around 1210 PM CDT.
  Bradshaw around 1215 PM CDT.

This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 328 and 353.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 4070 9784 4070 9807 4079 9816 4099 9774
      4078 9755
TIME...MOT...LOC 1700Z 240DEG 37KT 4076 9801

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Thies