OMAHA, Neb. – Skies over Nebraska could dance with the Northern Lights overnight, while showers and storms may complicate Tuesday travel. Drivers on I-80 and surrounding highways should stay alert for reduced visibility in patchy fog and rain.
According to the National Weather Service in Omaha, showers and isolated thunderstorms could continue into early Tuesday, tapering by mid-morning. The bigger spectacle, however, comes from the sky itself. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center says a solar storm racing toward Earth could spark aurora displays visible far beyond their usual northern reach, including across Nebraska if skies remain clear.
The aurora may glow over much of the Midwest, stretching from Kentucky to Kansas and as far west as Utah. Eastern Nebraska sits in the potential viewing zone, though clouds may limit visibility. Local residents hoping for a glimpse should head away from city lights and look north after midnight.
Showers will likely return Wednesday with a 40% chance of thunderstorms after 1 p.m., bringing gusty winds and the potential for brief downpours. Conditions calm into Thursday with highs in the low 70s, offering a drier stretch before another round of unsettled weather develops late week.
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary late-night travel during storm activity, charge devices in case of power disruptions, and keep an eye on updates from the National Weather Service.
Warnings remain in effect for localized flooding through early Tuesday, and aurora visibility depends heavily on cloud cover.
Five Day Forecast for Omaha, Nebraska
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 76. Showers possible early.
- Wednesday: Showers and storms likely after 1 p.m. High near 72.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 71.
- Friday: Mostly clear, high near 72. Breezy northwest winds.
- Saturday: Sunny, high near 72. Clear night skies with low near 54.
