textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Wintry weather today with a wintry mix of light freezing rain and light snow possible mainly south of Highway 2 this morning, and a threat for light accumulating snow north central Nebraska into this afternoon.

- A chance for light snow on Sunday across north central Nebraska. Arctic high pressure moving east will lead to a large temperature spread with low to mid 40s west to mid 20s east.

- Well above normal temperatures are expected Monday and Tuesday with highs pushing into the 50s and low 60s with more active weather and cooler temperatures arriving mid to late week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 202 AM CST Sat Dec 6 2025

Today, an upper shortwave trough will move across the Dakotas and Nebraska, as surface low pressure moves from the northern Nebraska panhandle into south central Nebraska by late afternoon. The best lift will remain east of the surface low and surface trough, and move fairly quickly east to near Highway 83 this morning with 40 to 50 POPS, and across the eastern half of north central Nebraska late morning through early afternoon with 50 to 80 POPS. This will coincide with an area of weak isentropic upglide and lowest pressure deficits. A brief period of a wintery mix of light freezing rain/light snow is possible across the west this morning, mainly south of Highway 2, including the I80 corridor. This may create a light glaze of ice on roadways this morning. Mainly light snow across northeastern areas this afternoon.

Light snow accumulations from a dusting to a half inch are forecast for areas east of Valentine through Brewster. With daytime highs in the low to mid 30s far northeast, some melting on roadways is possible. Behind this system, much milder highs expected from the central Sandhills and southwest with highs in the mid 40s to low 50s. Northwest winds may gust to around 25 mph at times across the western Sandhills.

Tonight, light snow may linger across the far northeast Saturday evening, as the system largely affects Iowa and Southern Minnesota. Arctic high pressure will drop into the eastern Dakotas as much colder air and overcast skies drop south through western and north central Nebraska. Lows from 8 to 15 above north central to upper teens southwest.

Sunday, a warm front on the backside of the arctic high will bring light snow across the Dakotas into north central Nebraska. Mainly cloudy skies in the morning with clearing across the west in the afternoon. Highs will contrast from the mid 20s far eastern counties, to the low 40s to mid 40s far western counties.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 202 AM CST Sat Dec 6 2025

Warmer air returns Monday and Tuesday. Deep surface low pressure over North Dakota on Tuesday will bring gusty westerly downslope winds 20 to 30 mph and much above normal highs from 55 to 65 degrees, which is near 20 degrees above normal.

Unsettled weather returns Tuesday night through Friday, as a deep upper lows becomes centered near Hudson Bay Canada, and upper ridging amplifies along the West Coast and British Columbia. This will bring at least a slight chance for light rain or light snow. Highs from the upper 30s to mid 50s Wednesday will gradually cool to the upper 20s to upper 30s by Friday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1125 AM CST Sat Dec 6 2025

Snow continues to exit north central Nebraska this afternoon, with precipitation ending for all terminals by late afternoon. Low stratus will then overspread the area from north to south tonight, leading to widespread IFR/locally LIFR CIGs for terminals near and north of I-80. Stratus then begins to exit to the east tomorrow afternoon, with some improvement by the end of the valid period.

Winds remain gusty from the northwest into this evening, with gusts of 20 to 30kts expected west of HWY 83. Winds then become light from the north overnight, at 5 to 10kts.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.