Sunset in western Buffalo County, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — Temperatures begin to soar by the week, with heat index values reaching the 100s. Above average temperatures are expected through the start of August.
Haze will continue to over the area today as mostly elevated wildfire smoke obscures otherwise blue skies. There could be a small amount of smoke that makes its way to the surface, but the impacts should be minimal.
With a ridge of high pressure in control of the weather pattern aloft, above average temperatures are expected for the foreseeable future.
Only a brief weakness of the ridge allowing for a weak disturbance to impact parts of the Plains Saturday night through Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service – Hastings.
The upper-level ridge will rebuild across the area on Monday and remain in place through Wednesday, promoting a period of “oppressive” heat across the region as light southerly winds will maintain elevated dewpoints, NWS Hastings stated.
Afternoon temperatures could exceed 100 degrees across the entire area on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Depending how high dewpoints climb could impact the actual air temperature those days, but either way, the combination of dewpoints and temperatures will result in widespread heat index values likely 105 plus,” an NWS Hastings forecast discussion noted.
