textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- A Freeze Warning in effect tonight into Saturday morning for a large portions of western and north central Nebraska. This should lead to an end to the growing season.

- Dry and warmer conditions will lead to at least some elevated fire concerns Saturday afternoon, for areas west of Highway 83.

- Warmer and drier conditions Sunday and into next week, with highs ranging in the 60s and 70s.

- Shower chances return Thursday night into Friday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 208 PM CDT Fri Oct 16 2026

Tonight...surface high pressure centered over the area early this evening will settle southward across Oklahoma into northern Missouri. A light and variable wind will become light south later this evening, becoming south-southwest late tonight. Light winds beneath clear skies will allow for several hours of favorable radiational cooling this evening. Went colder using the BCConsshort, for lows in the mid to upper 20s across southwest, west central and central NE. As southerly winds increase after midnight, some gustiness will occur across north central NE where lows will range from 30 to the lower 30s. Most of the 12Z MOS guidance have lows tonight even colder in the low to mid 20s southwest and central NE areas. A Freeze Warning is in effect tonight into Saturday morning for areas near and easts of Highway 83. The cold temperatures should effectively end the growing season across western and north central Nebraska.

Saturday/Saturday Night...An upper ridge will progress eastward across the Northern and Central Plains, as an upper trough moves across Alberta and Saskatchewan Canada. This will bring a notable warmup on Saturday to 70 to 75 across the western Sandhills to lower 60s central NE. Southwest winds will be gusty from 15 to 30 mph near and east of Highway 83. At least elevated fire weather concerns appear probable for areas west of Highway 83. While low humidity from 18 to 25 percent is likely to be observed, how much wind overlap materializes across the west remains in question. Flow aloft appears fairly weak, which will likely limit mixing heights as a result. The gustier winds should persist into the overnight hours and this will keep overnight lows on the milder side. Though some mid 30s are likely in southwestern areas, northern Nebraska should hold in the low 40s.

Sunday, A weak cold front will move into the northwest Sandhills. Highs will remain mild in the low 60s to near 70 with sunny skies.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 208 PM CDT Fri Oct 16 2026

Early to mid week, upper troughing will persist across the western U.S. with a closed low of the coast of southern California by Wednesday. Upper ridging will amplify across the Central U.S. Weak disturbances from the Desert Southwest into the CentraL Plains will bring some increase in clouds. Isolated rain showers cannot be ruled out Monday night through Wednesday, though the current forecast remains dry. Highs in the 60s Monday warm into the 70s by Wednesday.

By Thursday and Friday, the western US upper trough/closed low will advance east across the Rockies by late Friday, bringing a return of southwesterly flow aloft. At the surface, low pressure will begin to eject across the Dakotas by Friday evening, and this drags a cold front into the area sometime Saturday. This will bring continued highs in the 70s Thursday and Friday. Some threat for precipitation as well Thursday night into next weekend, and this will need to be monitored as the cold front interacts will some increase in Gulf moisture.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1236 PM CDT Fri Oct 16 2026

VFR conditions will prevail the next 24 hours. Ceilings from 2500FT AGL to 3500FT AGL have become scattered early this afternoon, with SKC across all of western and north central NE after 22Z. Northwest winds will remain 12KT or less at the KVTN and KLBF terminals this afternoon, then light and variable winds this evening becoming light south.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Warning from 1 AM CDT /midnight MDT/ to 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ Saturday for NEZ005>010-024>029-036>038-059-070-071.