textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Red Flag Warning continues through 7 AM CDT Tuesday morning, with strong northerly winds.

- Much cooler temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday with light precipitation possible Tuesday night into Wednesday. Light snow possible across northern Nebraska.

- The best potential for precipitation will be Wednesday night.

- Low confidence in precipitation Thursday through Saturday.

- Elevated fire weather concerns Sunday and Monday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 157 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

The main concerns in the short term will be fire weather concerns through early this morning, chance of light precipitation tonight into Wednesday and cooler temperatures today and Wednesday.

Red Flag Warning will continue through 7am CDT this morning. The main concern with the RFW through the early morning hours will be the sharp shift in wind direction from the west to the north. Winds will increase drastically behind the front. Blended closer to the 90th percentile for winds as they seem to have the best handle on gusts with this system, with wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph possible. Humidity will increase behind the front, thus after this morning, fire weather concerns will be low over the next few days.

Behind the front, cooler air will usher in and will see much cooler temperatures for Tuesday, after Monday's highs in the 80s temperatures will be around 30 degrees cooler, however temperatures will be closer to normal with highs mostly in the 50s.

As for precipitation chances, a weak shortwave trof moves in Tuesday which will bring the chance for some light precipitation chances. Forecaster confidence is low in any widespread precipitation, Tuesday night into Wednesday, however some light precipitation will be possible. There is also a chance for light snow across northern Nebraska, where the coldest overnight temperatures exist, again amounts will be on the low side and moderate confidence that snow amounts will not exceed 2 inches, most location will generally see less than an inch or all rain the farther south you go, however locations near the NE/SD border, generally across the northern Sandhills, will have the greatest potential to see 1 to 2 inches. A stronger trof moves in Wednesday into Thursday with a better chance for precipitation, with a greater chance for precipitation type to remain all rain, however can't rule out a rain/snow mix across the northern Sandhills into portions of north central Nebraska. QPF values for the total of Tuesday through Thursday will be mostly light for areas generally along and west of HWY 83 with generally less than half an inch expected, total. Areas east of HWY 83 could potentially see greater than half an inch, but at this time confidence remains low to medium in rainfall amounts exceeding much more than half an inch.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 157 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

A shortwave trough will move across eastern Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico on Wednesday. By Wednesday night, the shortwave trough will move through western Nebraska and most of Kansas. Surface low pressure will deepen across southern into southeast Kansas Wednesday night. This will draw colder air southward across western Nebraska. The main area of precipitation should be just south and east of the colder air. Therefore, light snow should be confined to north central Nebraska, where up to an inch is possible, while further south all rain is expected. POPs will be high, from 80 to 90 percent, except 60 to 70 percent northwest Sandhills. While only a tenth of an inch or less precipitation for far western Sandhills, precipitation amounts from two tenths to four tenths are expected most areas, with higher amounts possible in southeastern areas.

A longwave upper trough and closed low will move across the Pacific Northwest Wednesday night into Thursday. This upper trough and closed low will approach the region Thursday night, with the closed low moving across South Dakota Friday night, and into Minnesota Saturday morning. This will push a cold front through the region Friday night, with windy conditions possible on Saturday. Chance POPS across the northeast Thursday morning. Chance to likely POPS Thursday night through Friday night across the north (in closer proximity to the closed low over South Dakota), with only a slight chance to dry conditions I80 and south. Most locations during this timeframe are unlikely to receive much in the way of precipitation, with most of the area within a dry slot.

Highs Thursday forecast to contrast from mid 40s far northeast to the upper 60s to low 70s far southwest, as much warmer air across eastern Co and western KS lifts north into southwestern areas of the forecast area. Friday and Saturday mid 40s to mid 50s, then upper 50s to 60s by Sunday and Monday as an upper ridge builds into the region.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 100 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

Broken mid-level ceilings and VFR conditions are expected to prevail through Wednesday morning. Showers are expected to become more numerous later tomorrow morning across portions of the Sandhills and northern Nebraska. Winds from the northeast this afternoon will gradually become southeast tonight and increase 10-20 kts Wednesday morning.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.