LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Bundle up for one of the coldest nights of the fall season. Temperatures will plummet into the low to mid-20s tonight and Friday morning, making this the chilliest stretch we’ve seen so far this year in Lincoln and eastern Nebraska.
Tonight Through Friday: The Cold Snap
Clear skies and light winds will allow temperatures to drop fast tonight. If you’re heading out, grab the winter gear — it’s going to feel noticeably colder than recent days. For Lincoln, this will be our first hard freeze of the season and the coldest temperatures we’ve seen since late March.
Highs Friday will stay on the chilly side and could be a degree or two colder than Thursday, with afternoon temperatures in the low to mid 40s for most of central and eastern Nebraska. Western Nebraska should be a few degrees warmer, wit hhighs in the low 50s to near 60°.
What to watch: Drivers across western Nebraska should be aware of patchy fog developing overnight, especially west of Highway 83. Visibility could drop below half a mile at times, so take it slow on the morning commute if you’re traveling that direction.
The Weekend: Still Cool, But Warming Begins
Saturday brings similar conditions — cool with highs in the mid-40s — but this is when the warming trend officially kicks off. Southerly winds will start to build, signaling that warmer air is on the way. That said, temperatures will only reach the mid to upper 40s to start the weekend. Sunday will be more seasonal, with afternoon highs returning to the low to mid 50s.
A system moving across the southern plains Saturday night into Sunday could bring some spotty light precip to southwestern Nebraska, but don’t expect anything significant. Most of the state will stay dry.
Next Week: Back to Normal (and Then Some)
By Monday and Tuesday, temperatures climb back into the 50s. By Wednesday, some spots could even flirt with 60 degrees — well above normal for mid-November. It’ll feel like we’ve switched seasons overnight…