textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Chilly and windy conditions are expected today as highs will struggle to get out of the 40s.

- There is a small chance for light precipitation in far SW Nebraska late this afternoon and early this evening.

- Temperatures will be slightly warmer on Sunday with readings in the 50s.

- Mild temperatures continue through mid-week with Wednesday being the warmest day of the week

- Slight precipitation chances possible on Wednesday afternoon/night.

SYNOPSIS

Issued at 213 AM CST Sat Nov 14 2026

H5 analysis tonight had a highly amplified pattern across the CONUS. A high amplitude ridge extended from the Texas Panhandle north into southwestern Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan. This ridge then extended northeast to northern portions of Quebec. East of the ridge, a broad trough of low pressure was present across the eastern third of the CONUS. Within this trough, two closed systems were noted. The first over eastern Quebec, and the second over western Pennsylvania. Other disturbances within this trough were noted over Indiana and northern Georgia. West of the ridge, a broad trough of low pressure extended from just off the coast of British Columbia, south southeast into central California. Within this trough, closed low pressure was noted over the coast of Washington State with another shortwave noted over central California. In advance of the trough, another shortwave trough was present over southeastern Arizona.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 213 AM CST Sat Nov 14 2026

The shortwave over southeastern Arizona (mentioned above), will track northeast into northeastern New Mexico today. At the same time, surface high pressure, will transition across Iowa and a surface trough of low pressure will deepen along the front ranges of Wyoming and Colorado. With a decent pressure gradient expected today across the area, gusty southerly winds are expected. The latest NBM ensemble has 60 to 80% chance for wind gusts reaching 40 MPH Saturday afternoon across the central and western Sandhills. When this threshold is raised to 45 MPH, there is a 40 to 60% chance of gusts reaching this threshold. Cloud cover will increase later this morning from the south as the shortwave lifts into eastern New Mexico. This cloud cover, along with an entrenched cold air mass (H8 5 temps of 1-3C) will lead to highs in the middle 40s today. Some readings may touch 50 over northern portions of the forecast area where the onset of cloud cover will hold off until this afternoon. As was the case yesterday, the deterministic, GFS and RRFS soln tonight develops some very light precipitation across far SW portions of the forecast area late this afternoon into the early evening hours. The latest NBM, barely works in a slight chance pop for far southern Chase County this evening. Based on the deterministic solns, decided to extend pops further north into the remainder of Chase and portions of Perkins County. Decided to keep pops at around 20 percent as the QPF forecast is only a couple of hundredths. Skies will remain mostly cloudy Saturday night into Sunday for most areas. Some limited clearing may occur in the northwest Sunday afternoon as drier air and a shift in wind direction to the west and southwest, ushers in warmer air. Lows tonight will be in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Highs on Sunday will range from around 50 along and south of a line from Ogallala to Broken Bow, with lower to middle 50s generally north of this line.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1135 PM CST Fri Nov 13 2026

There will be a brief period of some localized LLWS, generally in the North Platte River valley, including KLBF terminal. Low Level winds will be out of the south around 40 kts. At the SFC winds will remain breezy across western and north central Nebraska around 10 to 15 kts with gusts up to 30 kts out of the south to southeast through the remainder of the forecast period. Low clouds will move in late morning through the remainder of the forecast, with periods of MVFR conditions possible.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 535 AM CST Sat Nov 14 2026

Winds will remain breezy across western and north central Nebraska today into this evening with winds sustained around 10 to 15 kts and gusts up to 30 kts out of the south to southeast through the remainder of the forecast period. Low clouds will move in late morning through the remainder of the forecast, with periods of MVFR conditions possible this afternoon through evening.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.