textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Moderate to high confidence in below normal temperatures Thursday and Thursday night.

- Low confidence in sub-severe showers and thunderstorms Friday night.

- A cooler and drier airmass spreads into the area this weekend. Moderating temperatures expected early next week, with above average readings returning by Wednesday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 329 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

Lingering showers will continue through mid-morning especially across extreme north central Nebraska. Surface high pressure will fully settle into the region by late morning giving way to drier conditions for the afternoon. Cloudy conditions in the morning will give way to sunny skies for the afternoon. Cold air advection behind the departing system the previous night will push 850 mb temperatures in the 9 to 13 C range into north central Nebraska. This will keep highs on the cooler side of guidance (5 to 10 degrees below normal) with forecasted temperatures only in the low to mid 70s. Despite lower RH values across southwest Nebraska and some breezy northwest wind gusts, the cooler temperatures will generally keep fire conditions low across the region.

Dry conditions continue into Thursday night as high pressure continues to push into the region. Continued CAA into the region into Thursday night will keep overnight lows nearly 10 degrees cooler than the previous few days. Expect temperatures to drop into the mid 40s Thursday night which are nearly 5 to 10 degrees below normals for this time of year.

For Friday, another relatively dry day is expected, however, high pressure will slowly begin to slide to the east by late afternoon. Some marginal instability across portions of central and eastern Nebraska will result in an environment favorable for some nighttime convection on Friday night. While not expecting severe storms at this time, some isolated showers or thunderstorms could develop east of US-83 after Midnight. Any showers and storms will push east of the region by sunrise Saturday morning.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 329 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

Canadian airmass will sink southward into much of the Plains. This will be located to the north of a stationary front that will stall across northern TX into the southeast U.S. This is where the better low-level moisture and chances for rainfall will reside. As mentioned it will be cool, with temperatures well below normal. In fact, highs may struggle out of the 60s on Sunday. Lows will be quite cool as well, in the 40s both Saturday and Sunday night. Northwest flow aloft and limited return Gulf moisture through the middle of next week appears to keep the weather quiet in terms of convection. Some hint that this could change by the end of the week, but this is just beyond the forecast period. Temperatures will gradually moderate, with highs back into the 90s by Wednesday.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 641 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

A few light showers will move across the area this morning, greatest potential east of HWY 83. Winds will increase late this morning out of the northwest around 15 to 20 kts with gusts up to 30 kts. Winds will diminish this evening out of the west under 10 kts. Mid level cigs will stick around through mid to late morning than skies will clear the remainder of the forecast period.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 329 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

Elevated to perhaps briefly near-critical fire weather conditions are expected this afternoon across far southwest Nebraska into the Nebraska Panhandle. Gusty northwest winds will develop this morning and continue through the day behind a cold front. Highs today will be cooler behind the front, in the lower to mid 70s. Rather poor humidity recovery tonight will lead to a near or perhaps critical fire weather day across much of the area Friday. Some areas have received beneficial rainfall this past week, but other areas have not. The green-up does continue, but much slower for areas that have not received as much rainfall.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.