textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Continued hot temperatures this weekend, with Heat Advisories in effect Sunday and Monday for portions of the forecast area.

- Isolated thunderstorms possible Saturday afternoon and early evening for portions of the Sandhills.

- A slight chance for thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening portions of the Sandhills.

- Temperatures return to near normal Tuesday through Friday with thunderstorms chances, with the higher chances Wednesday and Wednesday night.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 140 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Short Term (Today through Sunday night): The main concern in the short term will be the heat this weekend and the isolated chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening. Upper level high pressure continues to remain centered across the High Plains with strong WAA and 850 temps around 24 to 30 degrees celsius this weekend leading to hot and dangerous temperatures by Sunday. High temperatures reaching the 90s to low 100s by Sunday. Saturday the heat index will remain below criteria thus no need for heat headlines. Sunday will be warmer and heat indicies will reaching and exceeding the 100 degree heat index across the northern Sandhills into north central Nebraska. Did extend the heat advisory on Sunday to the west to include Sheridan County.

As far as thunderstorm chances this weekend, there will be an isolated chance for thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening. The frontal boundary currently located across southern South Dakota will slowly sag southward today and become stalled across portions of the central Sandhills into north central Nebraska. This will become the primary focus for any isolated convection that develops this afternoon. Convection is expected to be mainly general thunderstorms as the environment is not supportive to sustain any organized severe potential. Storm development will generally be diurnally driven, thus the potential for thunderstorm development will wane by sunset.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 140 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Monday...A broad upper ridge will extend across the Western and Central U.S. The upper ridge will be centered from Utah across western Kansas. NBM high temperatures are forecast from 99 to 104 across much of the forecast area. Corresponding heat indices will range from 98 to 102. Did include Garden, Grant, Hooker, Arthur and Deuel County to the existing Heat Advisory. Now, the Heat Advisory is in effect for all counties except Sheridan County, where heat index values will fall below criteria at around 95 degrees. A weak cold front is forecast to move into the central Sandhills (near Highway 2 and 91) by late afternoon. This may trigger isolated storms late Monday afternoon and evening, and have slight chance POPs. The cold front will quickly advance to near the Nebraska/Kansas border by 06Z Tuesday.

Tuesday through Thursday...A reprieve from the heat is expected as the upper ridge will be pushed further west and south into the Rockies and Southern Plains with upper troughing across the Great Lakes. This will place western Nebraska in northwest flow aloft with at least low chance POPs across a good portion of the area for showers/storms Tuesday night through Thursday night. The best opportunity for precipitation appears to be Wednesday into Wednesday night per the 00Z deterministic ECMWF, GFS, and Canadian GDPS, as well as the corresponding ensembles. The upper ridge is forecast to build eastward into the region on Friday.

Highs Tuesday to reach the upper 80s to lower 90s, which is still 2 to 4 degrees above normal. Highs Wednesday through Friday close to normal. Wednesday, 85 to 90, except low 90s southwest. Thursday, highs 85 to 90, and upper 80s to near 90 Friday. &&

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 621 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

A weak backdoor front moving into north central Nebraska has developed stratus with IFR ceilings and MVFR visibilities at KVTN. These conditions may persist until 14Z, when VFR conditions return for the remainder of the TAF period. At KLBF, VFR conditions the next 24 hours. Some scattered afternoon cumulus expected during the afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms are possible in the central and eastern Sandhills, but are not expected to affect the KLBF or KVTN TAF sites.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory from 10 AM to 9 PM MDT Sunday for NEZ004. Heat Advisory from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ Sunday to 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ Monday for NEZ005>010-026>029-094. Heat Advisory from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ Monday for NEZ022>025-035>038-056>059-069>071.