Mallory Schnell

December 1st kicks off meteorological winter in the northern hemisphere. The start of astronomical winter this year – the winter solstice – occurs on December 21st.

A blast of cold air is on the way for Thanksgiving in the Heartland, but we’re not looking to break any records. However, November is a month when we can experience big swings in temperatures, very gusty winds, and either rain or snow (or both!).

Typically, by this time of year, we’ve experienced our first measurable snowfall in Omaha. “Measurable” means more than a trace… In the case of snow, at least 0.1″ of accumulation.

Clouds cleared out briefly Saturday morning but will roll back in for the rest of the day. Highs will top out in the mid 50s. A stray shower or a few sprinkles are possible during the afternoon and evening.

With daily highs and lows averaged, our temperature departure from normal was +3.5°. The past month was the 13th wettest October on record for Omaha, dating back to 1877.

Clouds will slice through the WOWT viewing area again Sunday, with more clearing to the north. Highs will top out in the lower-70s with winds from the WNW 7-15 mph. We’ll hold a chance for rain throughout the day for far southeastern Nebraska, northwestern Missouri, and southwestern Iowa.

Another mostly cloudy day is ahead with highs near 70° and a spotty shower possible - primarily this afternoon. Clouds clear tonight, with plentiful sunshine on the way Sunday.

As of September 28th, there have been 19 named storms during the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. More are brewing.

Wednesday, September 1st marks the first day of Meteorological Fall in the northern hemisphere. At this time, the month is trending close to "average" in terms of temperatures and rainfall.

Though we all should take precautions to beat the heat (stay hydrated, take frequent breaks, avoid being outdoors the hottest part of the day), we need to pay special attention to our children and our pets in this weather.