textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Overall confidence on any storms today is low. An area of high pressure will build into the area behind this morning's departing cluster of storms. Afternoon storms could move eastward into the area by this evening, but instability may be lacking due to expected cloud cover much of the day.

- Higher confidence Wednesday as instability increases. Also a couple of different boundaries for storms to focus on by later in the afternoon Wednesday.

- Above average temperatures in the 80s and humid conditions Thursday through Monday. The potential for scattered thunderstorms Thursday and Friday, mainly across the north and east. Strong to severe storms possible Thursday.

- Turning warmer and drier Saturday through Monday with highs 85 to 90.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 123 AM CDT Tue Jun 2 2026

Southwest flow aloft continues today as the upper low continues to spin across northern MT and southern Saskatchewan. Forcing is decent and scattered showers and storms will likely develop during the evening hours tonight. A meso-high behind this morning's MCS could tend to keep most of the area dry today. The most likely scenario is for convective activity to develop within moist upslope flow regime across the western High Plains late this afternoon and drift toward western Nebraska this evening. CAMs have several different scenarios and unsure how far this activity will make it into the area this evening. Strong gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall will be possible from storms that do track eastward.

Wednesday is looking more sure in terms of convection. The upper low will continue to track eastward just north of the ND border. Surface low pressure will deepen across central SD with a trailing weak cold front to the southwest into northwestern Nebraska. As the low deepens, southerly low-level flow will increase through the day Wednesday and will help draw mid to upper 60s surface dew points northward through the area. Mid-level lapse rates will be relatively steep, and with the increase in low-level moisture, SFC BASED CAPE values on the order of 2500-4000 J/KG are expected. The highest values will be located across southwest into central Nebraska. Appears to possible areas for convective initiation. 1) The cold front located across northwest Nebraska and 2) a confluence zone located from southwest into central Nebraska. Overall shear loos supportive enough for supercell development initially and upscale growth into an MCS Wednesday evening aided by an increasing low- level jet.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 123 AM CDT Tue Jun 2 2026

Thursday the upper flow becomes nearly zonal. A disturbance will cross the area during the afternoon and evening with southerly winds keeping dewpoints in the mid 50s to near 60. Scattered thunderstorms may develop in the afternoon mainly east of Highway 83 and last into the evening. Some of these storms may be strong to severe, where better deep layer shear and instability exists. Other thunderstorms are possible in the west late afternoon and evening. Highs in the low to mid 80s. A weak cold front will move into the northwest Sandhills overnight.

On Friday, an upper trough and weak cold front will move across western Nebraska. Still low chances for showers and storms during the afternoon and evening in the east. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Saturday and Sunday, upper ridging will occur across the central CONUS as an upper trough deepens across the Pacific Northwest and West Coast. Warmer and humid with highs from 85 to 90. Looks like dry conditions until Sunday afternoon in the east, with lows POPS Sunday night into Monday, though upper ridging still remains over the region.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1252 AM CDT Tue Jun 2 2026

Showers should end this morning, but it appears that plenty of cloud cover will linger through much of the day with the increased in low-level moisture. A stratocumulus around 4-5K feet AGL will cover much of the area but should remain above MVFR thresholds. Southeast winds at 10-20 kts with higher gusts are expected by later this morning into the afternoon hours.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.