OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – It was hard to argue with the weather Wednesday! I know, we could use rain. We have many chances, including severe weather potential, later this week.
As the winds pick up tonight, a quick shower could develop early Thursday morning. South winds could gust as high as 40 mph through the afternoon, pushing highs into the low and mid 80s. When the actual warm front gets closer in the evening, more isolated storms could develop.
Record highs remain possible Friday. I expect Lincoln to have the best chance at topping the record of 93°. Omaha could get close to the record of 94° set in 1944. A lot of this will hinge on where drier air stays over the metro. Dew points will need to stay in the 40s to get into the mid 90s.
The first round of potentially severe storms is Friday evening. Any storm that develops south and southeast of Omaha could have some hail and strong winds. In the metro, a storm or two is possible any time from sunset Friday through sunrise Saturday. If you are going to be outside, keep an eye on the radar.
Saturday and Sunday are First Alert 6 Weather Days for increased severe storm potential. Storm chances on Saturday are low in the morning through the afternoon, then go up in the evening and overnight. You might be able to sneak in your outdoor graduation party if you get it wrapped up by dinnertime, to be on the safe side.
The storms Saturday night could have large hail, strong winds, and heavy rainfall. Any tornado potential Saturday is very low. As is the case with back-to-back severe weather days, what happens Saturday night will have a big impact on where severe storms develop Sunday.
However, the severe weather ingredients line up better over the Missouri River Valley on Sunday. There is more moisture, more spin, and more instability to fuel big storms. This round could also have big hail, strong winds, and heavy rain, but there is potential for a few tornadoes on Sunday.
We are still a few days from these storms. It is too early for specifics, but we can see things coming together for severe weather over Nebraska and Iowa this weekend. Make sure you are staying with First Alert 6 for the latest information through Saturday and Sunday…