textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Moderate to high confidence in showers and thunderstorms Wednesday morning.

- High confidence in cooler, below normal temperatures through Thursday.

- Moderate confidence in dry conditions as well as a return to above normal temperatures for the end of the week and into the weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 336 PM CDT Tue Aug 4 2026

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms across the region are slowly pushing out of the region. Expect a mostly dry forecast through the evening as surface high pressure begins to nudge into northwest and northern Nebraska. Clouds begin to clear in the north and northwest by late afternoon as the high pushes in, but across the south, skies will remain mostly cloudy. A weak trough will pivot across the Nebraska/Kansas border early Wednesday, bringing another round of showers and embedded thunderstorms to areas mainly south of Highway 2. Similar to this morning, the severe risk with these showers and storms will be low, but a some small hail or stronger gusts up to 50 mph cannot be ruled out. While QPF amounts continue to trend downward, still expecting some locations across south central Nebraska to see up to quarter inch of liquid. These showers should come to an end by Noon CT giving way to drier weather for Wednesday afternoon. Some smoke has been added to the forecast as well for Wednesday. While not expected to really affect the surface, it could be thick enough to cause some problems for those sensitive to smoke. Temperatures will remain chilly as cold air advection pushes 850 mb temperatures in the 12 to 16 C range into north central Nebraska. With little solar heating today, overnight lows will drop into the upper 40s to low 50s tonight.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 336 PM CDT Tue Aug 4 2026

Upper level ridging and surface high pressure keeping dry conditions around through the end of the week and into next weekend. The main weather concern will be temperatures in the extended period. A gradual warming trend begins on Wednesday, although temperatures remain cool and well below normal on Wednesday. Expect highs to rise into the mid 70s to low 80s. Highs will return to the 90s and low 100s by Saturday lasting through early next week. There is some concern that these highs have the potential to have widespread temperatures over 100 degrees by the end of the weekend. Latest probability forecasts show the potential of seeing over 100 degrees to be 40 to 50 percent for much of southwest Nebraska into the Panhandle. Elsewhere, probabilities are still near 30 percent for much of the forecast area. At this time, while high temperatures will be very hot, heat indicies will remain near or below 100 degrees. However, if this warming trend continues and confidence increases over the next few days, heat headlines may be necessary.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 628 PM CDT Tue Aug 4 2026

VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period.

Low stratus and periodic light rain will persist through the overnight hours into Wednesday but impacts will be fairly limited. Expect clearing skies through the late morning into Wednesday afternoon with variable winds becoming predominantly southerly to end the period.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.