textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler and mainly dry conditions are expected this weekend with a small threat for isolated thunderstorms this morning in the eastern Sandhills and portions of central Nebraska.

- Temperatures will rise back up into the 80s to lower 90s Monday through Friday with mainly dry conditions forecast. There is a slight chance for precipitation over northeastern areas Wednesday afternoon/night.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 301 AM CDT Sat Jun 13 2026

While tonight will remain mostly dry across the region, there is some low-end chances for some isolated thunderstorms across north central Nebraska by sunrise. A trough will combine with some marginal instability across portions of central and eastern Nebraska resulting in an environment favorable for some convection. In addition, this area will be enhanced by a low level jet promoting some initiation. While not expecting widespread severe storms, any isolated showers or thunderstorms that develop will be capable of producing some hail and stronger winds initially. Isolated storms will gradually congeal into more of a cluster as it moves southeastward with damaging winds being the main threats after sunrise.

Dry conditions will then persist through Saturday night as zonal flow sets up over the central US and high pressure gradually returns to the region by Sunday. Cold air advection behind the departing trough the previous night will bring a return to 850 mb temperatures in the 9 to 15 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 ranging from the mid 60s in the Pine Ridge to the upper 70s south of I-80.

Continued CAA into the region into Saturday night will keep overnight lows nearly 5 to 10 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year. Currently expecting temperatures to drop into the low to mid 40s Saturday night for most locations.

With high pressure settling in by Sunday, dry conditions will persist. Colder air will also continue to filter in with highs generally in the mid 60s to low 70s across the region. Sunday night lows will also remain chilly in the low to mid 40s, potentially dropping into the upper 30s across the Pine Ridge.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 301 AM CDT Sat Jun 13 2026

A fairly stagnant upper level pattern will persist Monday through Friday with closed low pressure meandering across Ontario and southern portions of Hudson Bay. For next week, mainly dry conditions will persist across the region. There is a meager threat for precipitation Wednesday afternoon/ night, mainly over northeastern portions of the forecast area. This is in association with a decent shortwave which will track southeast on the southwestern periphery of the upper level low. This feature ends up forcing a cold front through the forecast area Wednesday night. As for pops Wednesday afternoon/night, the NBM forecast has kept these at slight chance and this is reasonable. The latest NBM ensembles have only a 20 to 30% chance of 24 hr precipitation > 0.01" ending at 7 AM Thursday morning. The latest EC and GFS ensembles advertise around a 20 to 40% chance of 24 hr precipitation exceeding 0.01 inches as well. Low amplitude ridging, will begin to build east of the Rockies toward the end of the forecast period. This will eventually force the upper level low east next weekend. With low amplitude westerly and west southwesterly flow commencing next weekend, we should see an uptick in precipitation chances. As for temperatures next week, Tuesday and Wednesday should see the warmest readings across the area. Warmer air will push into southwestern Nebraska both days with readings reaching the lower 90s. Cooler temperatures will settle into the area Thursday behind an exiting cold front. After highs in the 80s Thursday, readings will reach back into the middle 80s and lower 90s for Friday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1220 PM CDT Sat Jun 13 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through the forecast period. Any lingering low level clouds should clear out quickly from the area early this afternoon, revealing generally clear skies for the bulk of the day and evening. Winds will continue to remain gusty out of the north northeast at 15 to 20 kts gusting up to 30 kts through the evening. Clouds will redevelop across southwest Nebraska early Sunday morning along with winds diminishing and backing towards the northwest, remaining late into the period.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.