textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Rain chances increase Wednesday and then again Thursday night into Friday. Some decent rainfall amounts, possibly over one- half inch are possible in spots.

- A warming trend is then expected through the weekend. Highs will climb from the 70s Sunday into the 80s Sunday and Monday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 151 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

High pressure will settle southward across Minnesota and Iowa tonight into Wednesday morning. Aloft, southwest flow will be dominate across the region ahead of a shortwave crossing the Intermountain West. Have issued a frost advisory for portions of north central Nebraska late tonight till just after sunrise Wednesday morning. This area will be the last to see an increase in cloudiness as the shortwave approaches the area late tonight. The increase in cloud should keep the rest of the area in the mid to upper 30s and frost free.

As mentioned, clouds will increase, and will be a cloudy day Wednesday. Rain chances will also be on the increase. As the shortwave trough approaches from the west, mid-level WAA will be on the increase. An area of mid-level FGEN also develops, and should see a northeast to southwest band of light to perhaps briefly moderate rain develop in the morning and then begin to decrease by later in the afternoon as the FGEN weakens. As for amounts, fairly high probabilities of one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch. This would most favor southwest Nebraska.

Skies clear some as the shortwave moves east of the area Wednesday night. At this time, looks like temperatures will remain above any frost potential.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 151 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

The next system is already on the horizon Thursday through Friday. The probability of seeing some decent rainfall amounts is on the increase. This is supported by both the 19/12Z NAM and ECMWF which dig a negatively tilted trough farther southward into Colorado Thursday night, and then pivots northeastward across the Central Plains Friday. Looking at the various ensemble suites, confidence is high in much of the area receiving at least one-quarter of an inch, with some locations likely to exceed one-half inch of rainfall.

System weakens across the area Saturday with a subtle upper trough still located over the area. Lingering cloud cover and a few isolated showers will start the Memorial Day weekend. Ridging aloft then builds across the area Sunday into Monday with a couple of very nice days expected Sunday into Monday. In fact, will become quite warm by Monday, as highs climb from the lower 80s Sunday and into mid and upper 80s Monday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1233 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through tonight across all of western and north central Nebraska. A weather disturbance will approach the area tonight, with showers developing across portions of the Sandhills and especially southwest Nebraska Wednesday morning. Surface winds will be north today, becoming south on Wednesday.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Frost Advisory from 1 AM to 7 AM CDT Wednesday for NEZ006-007- 009-010-028-029.