textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Wintry precipitation will linger into early this evening across eastern portions of north central Nebraska. Sleet, freezing rain, and light snow could lead to hazardous travel conditions.

- Dry conditions return for this weekend and continue through Wednesday of next week, along with well above average temperatures (highs in 50s to 60s).

- The combination dry conditions, near record temperatures, and gusty west winds could lead to near critical fire weather concerns Sunday afternoon across much of western Nebraska.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 145 PM CST Fri Jan 2 2026

Currently, weak surface low pressure extended across eastern CO into the southern NE panhandle. A warm front extended across western KS as a stationary front extended across the western Ne panhandle. Aloft, a shortwave trough was cross int the Sandhills into northeast NE. A shallow cold airmass is in place across north central and central Nebraska, with light rain near and west of Hwy 83, and light freezing rain to the east. A mix of freezing rain, sleet and light snow is expected into early this evening east of Hwy 183, where a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 9 pm CST.

Overnight, a warm front will advance east of Hwy 83 by 12Z with skies becoming mostly clear across the west. Lows will fall into the low to mid 20s with a light west wind or light and variable wind.

Saturday, upper height rises as the warm front becomes stationary across northeast Nebraska. Skies mostly sunny in the afternoon. Went slightly warmer than the NBM for highs near the 50th percentile. Light westerly winds 5 to 10 mph with above average highs in the low to mid 40s far northeast, to the mid 50s to near 60 across the Sandhills and southwest.

Increasing cloudiness Saturday night as surface low pressure deepens along the Front Range. Warm H85 temperatures from 8C to 12C as lows fall into the mid 20s to low 30s.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 145 PM CST Fri Jan 2 2026

Persistent unseasonably warm temperatures are forecast Sunday through Wednesday of next week. A broad upper ridge will be centered over the Central U.S on Sunday, as an upper trough remains across the West Coast and Intermountain West.

On Sunday, anomalously warm H85 temperatures will exist east of the Front Range. H85 temps from 10 to 15C will be above the 90th percentile. Forecast highs from the upper 50s northeast to upper 60s southwest, could warm even further, as the NBM 50th percentile is a few degrees warmer. The forecast warm temperatures will have impacts on fire weather concerns. As these near record temperatures combine with dry air and strengthening west winds, a period of near-critical fire conditions may develop Sunday afternoon. The strongest winds look to remain west of Highway 83, where gust of 20 to 30 mph are possible.

Very mild and dry conditions persist Monday through Wednesday, with broad zonal flow aloft. This will bring persistent westerly downslope winds across the area, and keep highs much above average. Highs in the low 60s Monday forecast to still reach the mid to upper 50s Tuesday and Wednesday. The mild temperatures and gusty westerly winds across the west will continue to bring elevated fire weather concerns Monday through Wednesday.

The GFS and ECMWF deterministic bring a cold front through Wednesday night, with cooler highs in the low to mid 40s Thursday. An upper trough moving across Thursday into Friday bring at least a slight chance for rain or snow showers.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1155 PM CST Fri Jan 2 2026

Patchy fog is expected across portions of north central Nebraska over the next few hours before beginning to dissipate as winds shift to the northwest. Otherwise, VFR conditions will continue into Saturday evening across much of the region. A return to patchy fog is expected again by late Saturday evening across northern Nebraska which may impact KVTN.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.