The rollercoaster forecast for Omaha calls for a strong chance of rain but a dry Halloween

“We're expecting some sort of big pattern change midweek,” Taylor Nicolaisen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Valley, said Sunday. “It will be hot and dry at the start of the week and then more autumnal.”

Temperatures are expected to rise to the mid to upper 70s in Omaha on Monday. Tuesday, Nicolaisen said, will be even warmer and with a high of 85 forecast for Omaha, there is a slim chance of threatening a record for the day. The record is 90 degrees and was set in 1937.

Lincoln on Tuesday will likely come close to or exceed its record of 87 degrees, also set in 1937. The high for Lincoln is expected to be 85 degrees. The typical temperature this time of year in Omaha is a high of 60 degrees with a low of 39.

The warm and dry conditions combined with gusty winds will bring the fire threat to the fore. Both Monday and Tuesday are expected to be “windy and hot.” High humidity levels, around 40% on Monday, will help ease concerns somewhat.

The fire risk is expected to be greatest during the forecast period on Tuesday. Much of southeastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa will be at risk from strong winds from the southwest that can reach speeds of 40 to 50 miles per hour.

There's finally a chance of rain in eastern Nebraska late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Nicolaisen said. The forecast calls for a 70% chance of precipitation, with highs predicted to be in the mid-60s and lows in the upper 30s.

“We'll probably see some rain, about an inch,” he said. “It's not a drought remedy, but we could hear some thunder and even saw the possibility of severe weather.”

High temperatures on Halloween are expected to be in the mid to upper 50s on Thursday. Conditions are predicted to be dry and nearly perfect for goblins, witches and other small monsters.

“Things are actually looking pretty good for Halloween,” Nicolaisen said. “By sunset it will be dry and the temperature will be around 50 degrees, for trick-or-treaters temperatures will drop to the low 40s.”

Dry weather will continue into Friday, with highs in Omaha climbing back into the 60s and lows forecast to reach the mid-40s. A new weather system moving in from the west will bring a chance of rain Saturday and Sunday.

“There is some chance of precipitation sneaking back (to the area) on Saturday and Sunday,” Nicolaisen said. “There is a chance there will be rain, but at the moment they are not particularly good.”