textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Drier and warmer conditions return to the area this afternoon, with highs ranging from the upper 70s in northern Nebraska to the low 90s across far southwest Nebraska.

- A threat for showers and thunderstorms returns tonight and continues into Saturday across western and north central Nebraska.

- A slow moving upper level low pressure system will bring good chances for showers and some thunderstorms Sunday into Sunday night.

- Cooler highs, mainly in the 60s Sunday through Tuesday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 102 AM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

Currently, widespread showers and thunderstorms continue across western and northern Nebraska, with a threat for locally heavy rainfall persisting for the next few hours. A briefly stronger storm cannot be ruled out overnight as well, with a threat for hail and strong winds possible. This precipitation is expected to exit the area prior to sunrise.

Dry conditions are then expected to return to the area behind a cold front that is expected to push through the area by late morning. This will also bring clearing skies into the afternoon hours, allowing for a return of sunshine for portions of the area plagued by persistent cloudiness the past few days. A warmer day is expected as well, with highs today ranging from the upper 70s across northern Nebraska to the lower 90s in far southwest Nebraska. Quiet weather can be expected through the afternoon hours, with light northwest winds across the area. Humidity will linger for those near and east of HWY 83 today, with dewpoints remaining in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees.

By this evening, scattered to widespread thunderstorm development is expected across the high terrain of Colorado and Wyoming. Guidance remains in rather good agreement that this convection will move into southwest Nebraska after sunset this evening, potentially clustering as it does. This could bring some threat for a stronger storm or two with damaging winds, though this is low confidence for now. This convection could lead to locally heavy rainfall, with PWAT values again exceeding the 90th percentile climo. Any storms that move into southwest Nebraska will likely be efficient rainfall producers, and local amounts exceeding 1" are possible tonight.

Broad southwesterly flow persists aloft across the area ahead of an upper low moving eastwards out of the Intermountain West. This allows for a couple of shortwaves to pivot northeast within the mean flow aloft and across western Nebraska both Saturday afternoon and again Saturday night. Low level flow begins to return easterly, and this upslope flow will allow for additional threats for showers and thunderstorms first Saturday morning and then again Saturday night. PWAT values look to be slightly lower than today, though still hovering ~1". Some threat for locally heavy rainfall may return Saturday night across the area, though confidence in this is low for now. Some threat for a strong to severe storm may develop across western Nebraska as well, and trends will continue to be monitored.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 102 AM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

Sunday morning, a closed upper low will be located over east central Wyoming. A lead disturbance will bring likely POPs in showers and a few thunderstorms to the western Sandhills into north central Nebraska during the morning, followed by likely to categorical POPs for showers and some thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. By late Sunday evening, the closed upper low will move into southwest south Dakota into north central Nebraska. NBM probability of greater than 0.25 inch ending 12Z Monday is from 60 to over 90 percent for areas west of Imperial through Valentine. Highs Sunday will be cooler from the low 60s much of north central Nebraska to near 70 far southwest. Persistent isentropic upglide will favor low cloud ceilings on Sunday. On Monday, the upper low is forecast to move from nern NE/sern SD into Iowa. Low chance POPs for rain showers will linger mainly across north central NE. Upper ridging will build into the region Tuesday into Tuesday night. Lows chances for showers and a few afternoon thunderstorms as well, mainly across the western Sandhills.

Wednesday into Wednesday night, a slight chance to low chance POPs for showers and a few thunderstorms as subtropical moisture from the Four Corners region lifts northeast and tops the upper ridge over Nebraska. Precipitation looks light and spotty. Mainly dry conditions Thursday.

Highs Monday and Tuesday will remain cool, mainly in the 60s, warming to 65 to 75 Wednesday and the 70s Thursday.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 619 AM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

The main aviation concern will be LIFR ceilings and VSBYS as low as 1SM at KVTN until 15Z, improving to MVFR by 17Z and VFR 19Z. MVFR ceilings may return to KVTN after 03Z lowering to IFR after 06Z. VFR conditions expected at KLBF today. Thunderstorms will move into southwest NE after 03Z, and may affect the KLBF terminal after 06Z. Ceilings may also lower to MVFR after 08Z. Confidence in timing of stratus and low ceilings and thunderstorms in southwest Nebraska is low ATTM.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.