textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered thunderstorms are possible this evening and tonight. A few of these storms could be strong to severe with large hail and damaging winds.

- Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday evening into the overnight hours. A few storms could be strong to severe, primarily east of Highway 61.

- A threat for thunderstorms may persist nearly each day into late week, though confidence in this remains low for now.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 312 AM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

Thunderstorms currently persisting across north central Nebraska should quickly end over the next couple hours, as the low level jet begins to weaken and veer off into southeastern Nebraska. Dry conditions are then expected to prevail into this afternoon as southeasterly flow returns to the area. This will bring richer surface moisture back northwestward by this evening, with low to middle 60 dewpoints returning to portions of the Sandhills and central Nebraska. Much like today, it appears convection will again hold off until at least late evening, and likely until after dark across the area. This is aided by yet another strong southerly low level jet, which is progged to center over northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska. As this low level jet strengthens, scattered thunderstorm development is expected across portions of western and southwest Nebraska by 9 to 11 PM CDT. The initial storm mode looks to be supercellular, and these storms look to pose a threat for large hail and damaging winds. Guidance remains in good agreement with eventual clustering and upscale growth, and this could lead to an increasing damaging wind threat across portions of the Sandhills and north central Nebraska overnight. These storms eventually exit the area prior to sunrise, with drier conditions again expected to prevail into Wednesday afternoon.

Yet another round of evening thunderstorms is possible on Wednesday, though convection evolution from the early morning activity casts uncertainty on this. A surface trough does look to be positioned across the Sandhills by late afternoon, with ample moisture and instability present ahead of the boundary. Guidance solutions vary widely on if and how much convection may form along this boundary, but any storms that form would likely become severe. Long and straight hodographs do suggest updraft organization, and a threat for a supercell or two appears plausible. Any storms that form would likely pose a threat for large hail and damaging winds, and trends will need to be monitored closely.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 312 AM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

Little has changed in the thinking as we head into late week, with ample upper level flow providing adequate deep layer shear to support organized convection each day. Strong instability will also remain across much of western and north central Nebraska, suggesting some threat for strong storms may persist through the end of the workweek. Exact mesoscale details remain uncertain for now, and this will largely drive the areal extent of any severe threat.

Upper ridging begins to migrate westward by this weekend and early next week, and this finally leads to weaker winds aloft across portions of the Plains. This points towards a much needed reprieve from severe weather threats, along with some threat for increasing hot and humid conditions to the area.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.