HASTINGS, Nebraska – A frosty glaze coated lawns and windshields before sunrise Wednesday as temperatures tumbled into the lower 30s across south-central Nebraska. Under a Frost Advisory extending through mid-morning, residents awoke to crisp, calm air and the first true taste of late fall. Another advisory returns tonight as the chill deepens once more across the Tri-Cities region.
According to the National Weather Service in Hastings, light winds and clear skies will again set the stage for frost formation from midnight through early Thursday. Lows will dip into the mid-30s, with some rural valleys briefly touching freezing. Sensitive vegetation and outdoor plants could be damaged if not covered or brought indoors.
Today will bring abundant sunshine and a light northwest breeze, pushing highs near 67°F — a brief warm-up before cooler air slides back in. Thursday stays mostly sunny and seasonable, with highs in the low 60s before clouds increase late as a weak disturbance moves through. Showers are possible by Friday morning, especially along and east of Highway 281.
By the weekend, conditions turn more stable again. Saturday looks mostly cloudy but mild, reaching 60°F before cooler readings return Sunday. No significant storms or snow threats are expected, though long-range patterns hint at a colder stretch developing as October ends — the kind that often precedes Nebraska’s first snowflakes.
Residents are urged to protect garden plants, outdoor faucets, and sensitive crops during both frost advisories. With dry skies and chilly air in place, fall cleanup and harvest work can continue under picture-perfect autumn light.
Five-Day Outlook for Hastings, NE:
Wed: 67/36 – Areas frost early; sunny and mild.
Thu: 64/45 – Frost again; clouds late.
Fri: 56/47 – Mostly cloudy; spotty showers.
Sat: 60/49 – Mostly cloudy; light breeze.
Sun: 61/43 – Mild; partly sunny skies.
