568 
FXUS63 KGID 281144
AFDGID

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Hastings NE
644 AM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 335 AM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

An upper level low across eastern Colorado is expected to rapidly
intensify as it lifts northeast across the local area today.
Already have seen several rounds of showers and a few
thunderstorms cross the local area overnight...and expect steady
rain to our west to eventually slide across the local area over
the next few hours. Taking a look at soundings across the western
fringes of our area...indications are that we could see some snow
mix in mainly across Dawson and Valley counties...but little to 
no snowfall accumulation is expected due to marginal surface 
temperatures.

For the rest of the area...steady rain is expected to develop and
persist for much of the day...resulting in anywhere from a half 
of an inch to an inch and a half of total rainfall accumulation 
today. While not a sure thing...this could threaten rainfall 
records for the date across the tri-cities...which is just under 
one inch (0.92 in 1976) at Hastings and just over an inch at 
Grand Island (1.18 in 1924).

Of greater significance today will be the strong northwesterly
winds associated with the intensifying low pressure system. Model
soundings indicate windspeeds of 50 to 55 KTS around 2Kft. As a
result...expect winds gusts upwards of 50 MPH at the surface this
afternoon for just about everybody...which combined with steady 
rain and well below normal temperatures...will make for a rather 
unpleasant start to the weekend.

Winds are expected to gradually subside this evening as rainfall 
comes to an end...with mostly clear skies expected by midnight 
tonight.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday through Friday)
Issued at 335 AM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

A rather pleasant finish to the weekend is expected for Sunday as
sunny skies and near to slightly above normal temperatures return
to the local area in wake of todays weather system. This break in
weather will be short lived...however...as yet another upper level
low is expected to approach and cross the local area Monday. While
this system is not expected to be as intense and is also expected
to track further south than todays low...still expect the chance
for widespread rainfall along with an isolated thunderstorms or
two...which will be mainly limited to portions of north central
Kansas. Contemplated pulling thunderstorm chances completely with
this next system due to the trend of instability shifting further
south...but felt an isolated mention of a thunderstorm closer to
the axis of instability was still warranted. 

Thereafter...some discrepancies in models continue to exist...but
overall...west northwesterly and fairly progressive flow is
expected through the end of next week with multiple weak
disturbances...which should result in near seasonal temperatures
and multiple small chances of precipitation through the period.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 12Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 12Z Sunday)
Issued at 615 AM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

Generally poor conditions are expected for the next 12 to 18 
hours. Expect LIFR to near LIFR CIGS to prevail...along with MVFR
or lower VSBYS in RA/BR...as very strong northwesterly winds 
develop...gusting above 40 KTS...during the afternoon hours.
Significant improvement expected this evening as the winds begin 
to relax and VFR CIGS return.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...NONE.
KS...NONE.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Rossi
LONG TERM...Rossi
AVIATION...Rossi