All-time early record warmth
All-time warmth for early February across most of Nebraska and the western part of Iowa yesterday afternoon. The sounding released late this morning at Valley shows the very warm nose of air (~925 mb) over our region that mixed down to the surface. The adiabatic warming with optimal mixing led to temperatures in the upper 60's to 70's across much of Nebraska and the western half of Iowa.
Figure 1. 18Z sounding released from the Omaha/Valley NWS office
Only the northern part of north central Nebraska was well-short of records as the front had moved through there in the late morning hours, limiting further heating. Records fell like crazy yesterday from Des Moines over to southwest NE. Omaha (75°F), Lincoln (76°F), Norfolk (75°F), Grand Island (77°F), Hastings (75°F), McCook (76°F) and Scottsbluff (71°F) all set record highs.
Figure 2. High temperatures at Mesonet stations yesterday
Warmest spot in the state was the Indianola Mesonet site near McCook with a high of 80°F. The McCook airport was a little cooler (76°F) so the official high was a little less impressive. Had the temperature hit 80°F in McCook, it would have been the second earliest 80°F on record. The earliest occurred back on February 7, 2015 when McCook managed 80°F.
