textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Record highs likely across the forecast area today.

- Slightly cooler highs for Christmas Day with record highs possible Friday across the area.

- Cooler air will push into the region Saturday with a sharp cooldown on Sunday. After highs Saturday in the middle 40s and middle 50s, Sunday highs will be in the mid 20s to mid 30s. Temperatures will rebound back into the middle 30s to middle 40s for Monday with middle 40s to middle 50s for Tuesday.

SYNOPSIS

Issued at 320 AM CST Wed Dec 24 2025

H5 analysis tonight had a broad ridge of high pressure anchored over the Central CONUS. This ridge extended from northern Texas into south central Canada. East of the ridge, as shortwave trough of low pressure was oriented along the Ontario/Quebec border and extended south into western New York. West of the ridge, persistent low pressure was anchored off the central coast of British Columbia. A deep trough of low pressure extended south of this feature to approximately 1000 miles off the coast of southern California. Across the western CONUS tonight, a broad plume of moisture extended east of the trough into the northern Rockies, northwestern CONUS and southwestern Canada. Across western and north central Nebraska overnight, abundant mid and high level cloudiness continued to drift across the area. Further east, a decent plume of low level moisture was present over central and eastern Kansas. Low clouds in association with this moisture had begun to push into portions of southeastern Nebraska with low ceilings noted at Hebron and Beatrice. Across western and north central Nebraska, skies were mostly cloudy overnight and 2 AM CT temperatures ranged from 30 degrees at North Platte to 42 degrees at Gordon.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 320 AM CST Wed Dec 24 2025

The latest HRRR and NAM12 solns tonight lift low level moisture into eastern Nebraska this morning. This plume of moisture is expected to reside just off to the southeast and east of the forecast area, so the threat for fog appears minimal attm. As for highs today, the inherited forecast had widespread 70s across the forecast area. The latest NBM came in cooler today and this cooler trend is also supported by the latest MET and MAV guidance. Winds will be fairly light this afternoon which will limit mixing potential, also am concerned about the abundant mid and high level cloudy cover persisting into the afternoon hours across the area. That being said, I did trend down temps toward the NBM guidance, but not 100% toward these highs. I did blend in some MET guidance which preserved the warmest temps in the western forecast area (better chances here for less cloud cover this afternoon). Even with the temperature reductions, record high temperatures appear likely this afternoon across the area. Record highs for today are 62, 59, 60, and 67 for North Platte, Valentine, Broken Bow and Imperial respectively. The forecast highs with this package are 72, 67, 70 and 73 for North Platte, Valentine, Broken Bow and Imperial, which will shatter records for these 4 locations. Tonight, a weak back door cool front will lift west from northeastern Nebraska into the eastern Sandhills and portions of central Nebraska. There is a good signal for fog formation overnight roughly east of a line from Springview to Burwell and this is supported by the latest NAM12 and 00z HRRR surface visby and BL RH products. Low level winds will shift around to the west Christmas day across the western 2/3rds of the forecast area. Across the eastern forecast area, the shift in wind direction will hold off until late morning or early afternoon. This will end up playing a large role in high temperatures in the eastern forecast area Thursday. The latest NBM forecast seemed to be too cool for highs Thursday-probably a by-product of cloud cover, and was well below the MET and MAV statistical guidance. Forecast highs Thursday were a blend of NBM with the warmer MET guidance. This resulted in highs in the lower 50s in the far northeast, to middle 60s in the southwest. ATTM, forecast highs for Thursday, are just below daily records for Christmas Day.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 320 AM CST Wed Dec 24 2025

Upper level low pressure, will approach the northern California Coast on Friday. This will lead to southwesterly flow aloft across the southwestern CONUS, allowing a surface trough to deepen along the high plains. Westerly winds will develop Friday afternoon, leading to good downsloping conditions and better mixing potential Friday afternoon. H85 temps will reach the lower teens Friday afternoon with resultant surface temperatures in the mid to upper 60s across the area. Current forecast highs Friday and (record highs) are as follows: North Platte 67(Record high 66), Valentine 65(Record high 60), Broken Bow 67(Record high 64), Imperial 67(Record high 66). A northern stream H5 trough will lift across the northern Rockies Friday night into Saturday forcing a cold front through the forecast area Saturday night. In advance of this feature, highs will reach into the mid to upper 50s Saturday. This will be followed by a sharp cool down for Sunday thanks to an arctic cold front with highs ranging from the middle 20s in the northeast, to the middle 30s in the far southwest. The core of the arctic airmass will begin to shift east into the upper midwest and Great Lakes Monday. Highs will range from 30 to 45 degrees Monday, rebounding into the middle 40s to middle 50s for Tuesday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1138 AM CST Wed Dec 24 2025

Upper level ridging will persist across the region. Some patchy to areas of fog may develop across eastern and into portions of north central Nebraska. However, fog development should be limited to areas east of both terminals so mention of FG/BR is in the prevailing forecast at this time. Otherwise, dry and VFR conditions are expected through Thursday morning.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.