Rain Chances Next 48 Hours
A slower-moving trough will move into the region Friday, June 6, bringing good chances of moisture to western Nebraska Friday morning and decent chances of rain to the eastern two-thirds of the state Friday afternoon. Additional chances of rain will be possible on Saturday, June 7. Most areas east of Highway 183 are unlikely to see significant precipitation, but portions of the northern Panhandle could get an inch by Friday afternoon. Additional chances of rain and thunderstorms are possible in the pre-dawn hours Saturday morning in eastern Nebraska, but significant precipitation looks unlikely at the present time.
Cooler Temperatures to Start Next Week
A trough will be moving into the Great Lakes region later this weekend and a surface cold front will move through the state on Sunday, June 8. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible with the frontal passage, especially along and south of Highway 30. Models are not currently bullish on significant precipitation and the best atmospheric forcing will be well to our northeast. Nevertheless, it is possible that storms will develop along the front and move southeast through the state in the late afternoon and evening hours. Having a sufficient local source of moisture from precipitation early this week would increase chances of storms developing on Sunday if the boundary forcing is sufficient.
After the frontal passage, temperatures will be seasonally cool to start the work week — likely in the lower to mid-70s statewide. Temperatures will remain on the seasonally cool side through Tuesday, June 10 statewide and through Wednesday, June 11 in the southeast quadrant of the state. But temperatures should rebound into the 80s in western Nebraska by Wednesday and should be in the 80s statewide to close out the work week.
Warmer Weather Coming
Warmer-than-average temperatures are likely by later next week and may persist through the solstice. At this point, this looks more like highs in the mid-80s to low 90s and not significant heat. The warmer temperatures (but not too hot) would be welcome news for crops that are running just a little short on growing degree days so far this season. For the first time in several years, we didn't move straight into mid-summer weather immediately after Memorial Day. But true summer weather will be the rule by later next week across the state and region.
Late Week Rain Chances
A trough is expected to be situated off the Pacific Northwest by late next week and a couple of shortwaves are likely to round the base of the trough into the Plains. This will help produce the rising motion needed for precipitation and the ridging further east would help with moisture return. Thus, the prognosis is good for showers and thunderstorms across the region later in the week. Exact timing of precipitation and amounts are difficult to pin-down, but 0.5- to 1.0-inch would certainly be possible across the state and region between next Thursday night, June 12 and Saturday, June 14. Also too early to pin down severe weather chances, but hail and flash flooding could be possible.
