textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Well above average temperatures in the upper 70s to mid 80s Thursday.

- Dry conditions remain likely through Sunday.

- Unseasonably warm temperatures Friday and Saturday from 85 to around 90 across the forecast area. Elevated fire weather conditions Friday and near critical Saturday across the western Sandhills.

- A cold front will bring cooler temperatures to the area Sunday, with even cooler temperatures Monday and Tuesday.

- The threat for precipitation will increase beginning Sunday night over northwestern Nebraska, with the threat for precipitation spreading into the remainder of western and north central Nebraska Monday night through Wednesday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 147 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026

Tonight...surface high pressure will remain from eastern ND into the middle Mississippi Valley. Will see an increase in mid and high cloudiness across north central Nebraska tonight. Lows tonight a few degrees warmer than the previous forecast, now from 48 to 55 degrees.

Thursday...surface low pressure will deepen across western Nebraska through the day, with southerly winds increasing to 10 to 15 mph. this will bring an increase in surface dewpoints to the low to mid 50s with afternoon humidity higher in the 30-50% range. The warmest H85 temperatures will be across southwest NE, where highs reach the low to mid 80s, with upper 70s across much of north central into central NE. These highs will range from 10 to around 15 degrees above average.

Thursday night...the upper flow will become zonal as an upper trough moves from British Columbia into the Pacific Northwest. A strong thermal ridge will reside over the Central Plains. Surface winds become light and variable, though overnight lows remain mild from 50 to 55. These lows are well above normal from 15 to near 20 degrees above normal.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 147 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026

Friday into Saturday, the upper flow will become southwesterly as an upper trough and closed low across the Pacific Northwest deepens into the Western U.S. Surface low pressure will persist across the Northern and Central High Plains, bringing a breezy southerly winds 15 to 25 mph by Friday afternoon, and highs 85 to near 90. Some guidance supports highs could reach the lower 90s across much of the west. The record high for North Platte is 95 degrees. Records for Imperial, Broken Bow and Valentine are 91 degrees Friday. Based on current forecast trends, Imperial and Broken Bow have the best chances of hitting a record high on Friday. Southerly winds will increase to 15 to 25 mph Friday afternoon across the central and east. Elevated fire weather conditions west of Valentine through Imperial, where afternoon humidity could reach the upper teens and winds gust up to 20 mph. Southerly winds will be even stronger from 15 to 35 mph Friday night. This mixing will also keep low very mild from the upper 50s to mid 60s, which will be around 25 degrees above normal. On Saturday, ridging aloft will break down. With the ridge breakdown and a cold front dropping through the Black Hills Saturday afternoon, very warm air will reside across western and north central Nebraska. Another very warm day is expected across the forecast area. Southwesterly winds will be strong at 20 to 35 mph across the east, and 15 to 25 mph across the west. Near critical fire weather conditions are possible Valentine through Imperial and areas to the west as afternoon humidity as low as 15 to 20 percent combines with wind gust to 25 mph. NBM forecast highs mainly 85 to 90. Highs could be a few degrees warmer than this, supported by the latest MEX and ECX MOS guidance. As for records Saturday, they are 88, 93, 94 and 95 degrees for Broken Bow, North Platte, Imperial and Valentine respectively.

The cold front should progress through much of the area Saturday night, with highs Sunday noticeably cooler with readings in the lower 60s in the Pine Ridge, to the upper 70s in far SW Nebraska. Sunday night into Monday, the threat for light precipitation will increase over northwestern Nebraska as mid level forcing tracks from Wyoming into the Dakotas. Monday and Tuesday, highs have trended cooler from the mid to upper 50s north central to upper 60s far southwest Monday, and mainly the upper 50s Tuesday. Increasing chances for showers Monday night through Wednesday. Flow aloft will transition to southwesterly as a broad trough of low pressure deepens across the western U.S. This is expected to bring a slight warmup to the low to mid 60s Wednesday, although confidence in the evolution of the upper trough remains low. Subtropical moisture is favored to be drawn northward from east of the four corners into the Central Plains, when the best chances for showers arrive.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 617 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026

VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period.

Winds will remain light and variable across the region through the night, into Thursday morning. Winds will then shift south southeasterly but still remain light at 5 to 10 knots. Scattered cirrus clouds are expected to move in late this evening and remains through the TAF period.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.