textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry conditions and mild temperatures today, with highs from 40 to around 45. - A system crosses the area Saturday, with the best chances for light snow accumulations across eastern portions of north central Nebraska. - After a cold day Sunday (highs 20 to 35 east, 35 to 45 west), above average temperatures return early next week (highs in upper 40s to 50s).

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 308 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025

Today, an upper trough will move across the Northern Plains into the western Great Lakes. This will push a cold front through the area from late morning into the afternoon. This will bring cooler afternoon highs from near 40 across norther Nebraska, while the central Sandhills and south wests Nebraska reach the low to mid 40s. Skies will range from partly to mostly cloudy. Gusty winds to 30 mph are expected across the eastern half of north central Nebraska this afternoon.

Tonight, An upper shortwave trough will move from Montana into Wyoming, with surface low pressure deepening from southeast Montana into the northwest Nebraska panhandle toward daybreak. South winds will strengthen across the northwest Sandhills overnight. Lows from 15 to 20.

Saturday, The upper shortwave trough will move across the Dakotas and Nebraska, as surface low pressure moves from the northern Nebraska panhandle into central Nebraska by late afternoon. The best lift will remain north and east of the surface low, across the eastern half of north central Nebraska. This will coincide with an area of weak isentropic upglide and lowest pressure deficits. While the best sustained lift will be across eastern South Dakota into southern Minnesota/northern Iowa, light snow accumulations from a half inch to around 1.5 inches are forecast across Holt and Boyd County. With daytime highs in the low to mid 30s, some melting on roadways is possible in these areas. Added 20-30 POPs across west central and southwest Nebraska during the morning, where a brief period (1-2 hours) of light snow is possible. Across northeastern areas, likely POPs and light snow is expected from mid morning to late afternoon (6-8 hours). Much milder highs expected from the central Sandhills and southwest with highs in the mid 40s to low 50s. Northwest winds may gust to around 25 mph at times across the western Sandhills.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 308 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025

Light snow may linger across the far northeast Saturday evening, as much colder air drops south through western and north central Nebraska. lows from 8 to 13 above north central to mid teens southwest.

Light snow is also possible again Sunday across the Dakotas, and models show weak support for this as far south as north central Nebraska. current forecast is dry, and will follow model trends for a possible inclusion in upcoming forecasts. Highs will contrast from only near 20 far northeast to the low 40s far western counties.

Northwest flow will remain established aloft through Thursday of next week. A downslope flow Monday and Tuesday will bring boost highs back into the mid 40s to low 50s Monday, and 50s to near 60 Tuesday. Cold frontal passages and a more unsettled pattern Wednesday and Thursday will bring a slight chance for rain or snow and highs more seasonal in the mid 30s to mid 40s.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 545 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025

The main aviation concerns today will be gusty northwest winds to 25kts across north central into central Nebraska and MVFR ceilings as low as OVC025 this afternoon in north central Nebraska, including the KVTN terminal. Winds will diminish this evening and become light southerly after 06Z Saturday.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.