textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry conditions will continue through the end of next week.

- Cooler today (Saturday) but temperatures increase back into the 50s and 60s through next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 352 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

The front continues to move through Nebraska through early morning, with little to no expected precipitation. The only exception will be across the Pine Ridge where terrain influences may result in an isolated shower. Only a dusting of new snow should be expected with precipitation ending by sunrise.

Upper level ridging will then slowly begin to build across the western US allowing for surface high pressure to push back into the region today. Colder air behind the departing front will drop highs today back into the 40s across the region. Low temperatures tonight will drop into the low to mid 20s. This colder air will be short lived as temperatures begin to moderate on Sunday as the ridge continues to build to the west. Highs Sunday return into the upper 40s to low 50s with lows in the upper 20s to mid 30s. While these temperatures on Sunday are still cooler than what has been observed the last few days, they are still nearly 10 degrees above normals (normal high: low 40s; normal low: low teens).

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 352 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

Upper level ridging will continue to prevail across the western US through the end of the week. With surface high pressure over the central Plains, conditions will remain dry and pleasant through the end of the next week. The main weather concern will be the increasing temperatures as warm air advection ushers in a much warmer airmass. Forecasted 850 mb temperatures in the 10 to 16 C range will persist allowing for surface highs to easily rise into the 60s for most of the days next week. The exception will be on Tuesday where the ridge begins to weaken slightly allowing for slightly cooler temperatures to edge into Nebraska. Still highs will be in the 50s. These warmer temperatures may result in some record highs being challenged as well next week, especially on Wednesday where much of north central will rise into the mid to upper 60s. Record highs this day could be broke at North Platte, Broken Bow, and Valentine where all three sites have highs in the mid to upper 60s, potentially into the low 70s across northern Nebraska. Current records sit at LBF: 62; VTN: 59; BBW: 60). The latest probabilities show that slightly higher temperatures could occur, so while Imperial doesn't appear to break a record with the going forecast (record is 67 and currently forecasting 67), it is not entirely out out of shot.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1140 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period. Skies should remain mostly sunny during the day, with increasing high clouds overnight. Winds will gradually back from the northwest to more southerly towards daybreak Sunday with gusts increasing towards the end of the period with speeds around 20 knots.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.