textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Another round of showers and thunderstorms may develop this evening, tracking across western and north central Nebraska. Some of the stronger thunderstorms may pose a risk for large hail and damaging wind gusts.

- Temperatures are expected to remain above average this weekend and potentially all of next week.

- Precipitation chances are expected nearly each night through Tuesday night. Afterwards, stronger upper level ridging is expected to lower precipitation chances. At this time, the severe weather risk remains uncertain.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 202 AM CDT Fri Aug 28 2026

An upper level high remains across the Desert Southwest. An upper level ridge builds across eastern Montana, with a trough tracking into the Pacific Northwest. Throughout the day, this should support a fairly quiet weather pattern. partly cloudy skies are expected, with highs pushing into the upper 80s to mid 90s. Throughout the afternoon, southerly winds will support a push of moisture into the region, bringing dew points into the 60s, with some locations possibly pushing dewpoints into the lower 70s. These southerly winds are expected to be a bit gusty, as well, with peak gusts during the afternoon around 25 to 30 mph across the region.

By the late afternoon into the early evening, expecting to see an upper level shortwave tracking through the upper level flow, supporting a warm frontal push across western Nebraska. With the daytime heating and push of moisture ahead of this front, should see some decent rebuilding of instability across the region. The upper level pattern will also support some localized increases in the deep layer shear, which should support a few stronger thunderstorms late afternoon and early evening. Some of the stronger storms may bring a risk of large hail, with a non-zero risk for damaging winds. With the deeper moisture available in the atmosphere, these storms may also bring a risk for locally heavy rainfall. However, confidence remains on the lower side of where storms will set up along the front. Current CAM guidance suggests these cells will largely be isolated to scattered in nature, so will need to keep a close eye on the mesoscale evolution tomorrow afternoon to better assess where a greater severe risk may set up. For what it's worth, the SPC has put most of the region under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe thunderstorms tomorrow evening.

As this round of showers and thunderstorms moves out of the region, expecting a fairly quiet overnight period. However, the overnight cool off is expected to remain somewhat limited, with lows dropping into the mid 60s to lower 70s. Upper level ridging is expected to amplify overnight and through the early afternoon, which will support continued dry conditions through the afternoon. Also expect this round of ridging to bring unseasonably warm temperatures across the region, with highs in the mid to upper 90s, with a few locations potentially breaking into the lower 100s. For reference, typical highs in late August are around 85 degrees, so looking at highs 10 to 15 degrees above normal. These highs would also exceed the 90th percentile compared to local climatology.

Saturday evening, another surface disturbance is expected to track through the region, potentially bringing another round of showers and thunderstorms. With the preexisting hot temperatures throughout the day, expecting that storms should mostly remain more elevated in nature, which may limit a greater severe risk. However, still see some potential for elevated instability and sufficient deep layer shear to lead to a few stronger thunderstorms and a potential hail risk. Another Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) has been issued for portions of western Nebraska Saturday evening. Will continue to see how the environment plays out over the next 24-36 hours to see if the severe risk increases, though.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 202 AM CDT Fri Aug 28 2026

Upper level ridging continues over the southern Plains, while an upper level trough tracks across the northern Plains. This will continue to support an active upper level pattern Sunday through early week. Throughout the days, the upper level ridging should continue to support lower rain chances, with highs climbing into the mid 80s to mid 90s. Again, highs for early September are right around 84 to 85 degrees, so this looks to remain warmer than average. With the fairly active upper level pattern, expect near daily chances of rain each evening into the overnight hours. At this time, the severe risk remains uncertain.

Mid to late week, stronger upper level ridging is expected to be the dominant feature. This will support warmer than average temperatures continuing through the end of the week, with highs potentially remaining in the 90s across the region. This stronger upper level ridging is also expected to limit precipitation chances through the end of the week.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1229 AM CDT Fri Aug 28 2026

VFR conditions are expected to persist throughout the effective TAF period across western and north central Nebraska. Surface winds are expected to remain light overnight, however, a strong low level jet will bring LLWS concerns across most of the region through the early morning hours. By the morning, as stronger mixing develops in the boundary layer, winds begin to increase, becoming gusty by the late morning. Southerly winds gusting around 25 knots through the afternoon are expected. An additional round of thunderstorms may occur during the evening, though confidence in direct impacts to area terminals remains low at this time.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.