689
FXUS63 KGID 200555
AFDGID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1155 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A dry, cold frontal passage tonight will keep temperatures
  for the weekend above normal in the 40s, but not as warm as
  the holiday week.

- Temperatures will be well above normal next week, and possibly
  approaching or breaking some record high temperatures for mid
  to late in the work-week. Christmas Day has the best chance
  (35-45%) to tie or break a record.

- It will remain dry with no appreciable precipitation on the
  current 7-10 day horizon.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 336 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

As expected, southerly winds were breezy this afternoon, but
nothing like experienced yesterday. Winds have gusted to near
30 mph this afternoon and high temperatures have underachieved
and I dropped highs a few degrees across the area for today.
Near critical fire weather conditions were present at times with
RH values falling into the mid to upper 20s across portions of
the area.

Tonight another cold front will move southward into the area
causing the winds to become northerly. There is a small
potential for some precipitation with this front further north
of Nebraska, but there is not much lift and moisture to allow
this to materialize for our area, remaining dry. The front will
also bring a shot of cooler air that will keep temps in the 40s
throughout the weekend.

As we move into the work-week, upper level ridging will begin to
build in, with well above 2 standard deviations (near 3) above
normal 500mb heights by Christmas Day. This ridging will aid
temperatures in heating up, with temps throughout the week in
the 50s and into the 60s. For our sites that we have long-term
records for, at Grand Island, forecasted highs for Christmas
Day are reaching/exceeding record high temperatures, this is
still 6 days away, but this trend has persisted for a number of
days already. At Grand Island on Christmas Day the most recent
full suite of 100 models provides a 36% chance for the high
temperature to exceed 65 degrees with a 74% chance that the high
will exceed 60 degrees. At Hastings on Christmas Day, a 80%
chance of exceeding 60 degrees and a 45% chance of exceeding 65
degrees. Bottom line, it will be very warm by the end of
December standards (nearly 25 degrees above normal). For more
information on current records, see the Climate section below.

Winds will be relatively mild, with light winds expected for
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Upper level ridging will keep
it dry, with no major weather systems impacting the area through
the holiday week and weekend after.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1145 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are likely to hold trough the period with
scattered to broken cloud bases >10,000ft maintaining. 40-45kts
of LLWS starting from around 240 degrees will pivot towards the
north between 6-13z. Wind directions will follow suit as a cold
front powers through tonight, flipping wind directions from the
southwest to the north. Winds should remain fairly stable
tonight between 8-15kts with gusts occasionally as high as
20kts. Gusts immediately following the front (10-15z) may
increase up to 25-30kts and will gradually taper off through
the rest of the day. By 0z, winds should calm and become more
variable. No precipitation is expected.


&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 241 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

Record High Temperatures

Grand Island, NE

December 24th:64 in 2021
December 25th: 62 in 1999,1963,1922
December 26th: 64 in 2005
---------------

Hastings, NE

December 24th: 66 in 1933
December 25th: 62 in 1999,1950
December 26th:65 in 2005

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
KS...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Billings Wright
AVIATION...Stump
CLIMATE...Billings Wright