Hastings, Nebraska – Violent thunderstorms could hammer south central Nebraska today, with damaging hail, 60 mph winds, and isolated tornadoes threatening towns along Highway 281 and beyond.
According to the National Weather Service in Hastings, the strongest storms are expected between 4 p.m. Monday and 3 a.m. Tuesday, moving from southwest to northeast. Severe weather is possible across the region, but the greatest tornado and large hail threat centers southwest of a Lexington-to-Hebron line. Residents should charge devices, secure loose items, and avoid unnecessary travel during peak storm hours.
Cities in the high-risk zone include Hastings, Kearney, Grand Island, and York. Local emergency management agencies urge people to monitor weather radios and be prepared to shelter if warnings are issued.
Tuesday brings a 30% chance of lingering storms near Hastings and along U.S. 6, especially between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Strong wind gusts up to 40 mph are possible, though the severe threat is lower than Monday.
By Tuesday night, a cold snap takes over. Patchy frost is possible in northern parts of the region like Greeley and Nuckolls counties, where lows may dip into the 30s.
Here’s the five-day summer weather outlook:
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high near 63°F.
- Thursday: Partly cloudy, 30% chance of showers. High: 68°F.
- Friday: 40% chance of storms. High near 67°F.
- Saturday: Spotty showers, high 72°F.
- Sunday: 20% chance of storms. High 73°F.
