textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Well above average temperatures of 50 to 55 today and 55 to 65 Tuesday, with westerly winds gusting up to 35 mph on Tuesday.

- Cooler Wednesday and Thursday, then much colder temperatures Friday (highs in the upper teens to near 30). Chances for light snow (mainly north central) Wednesday through Friday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 230 AM CST Mon Dec 8 2025

Today, a weak surface trough will move into eastern Nebraska as west to northwest winds increase to 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. The downsloping winds will mix down warmer air aloft for highs from the upper 40s to low 50s north and low to mid 50s south.

Tonight, deep surface low pressure will move into southern Saskatchewan Canada. A light western wind will help keep lows up into the upper 20s.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 230 AM CST Mon Dec 8 2025

A strong clipper system will track southeast into the Dakotas on Tuesday. An associated surface trough pushes into eastern Nebraska, strong H85 winds from 30 to 40 kts will mix down with gusty westerly winds 20 to 35 mph, with a few gusts to 40 mph across the west. The strong downsloping winds will mix down very mild H85 temperatures as warm as 10-12C to the surface, leading to highs near 60 most locations, and even near 65 in the far southwest. Humidity does not look to decrease to critical thresholds Tuesday, although the combination of mild temperatures and strong west winds could lead to a period of elevated fire weather concerns.

As this clipper system moves into the Great Lakes Tuesday night, a cold front will quickly push through the area by 06Z Wednesday. This will bring in a cooler airmass on Wednesday, with highs contrasting from the mid 30s far northeast to near 50 far southwest. Chance POPs for light snow, or rain/snow mainly across north central Nebraska

Another weak cold front then pushes through the area Wednesday night, with a continued chance for light snow Wednesday night into Thursday, mainly across north central Nebraska. Highs Thursday are warmer than the previous forecast now to the upper 30s northeast to the upper 50s far southwest. Confidence on highs Thursday are below average. A push of arctic air is likely Thursday night into Friday, with highs Friday only in the upper teens north to the upper 20s to near 30 southwest. only from the mid 20s to around 40. This cold air then looks to stick around through at least Saturday, with upper teens far northeast to upper 30s far southwest. and upper teens to upper 30s Saturday. As upper flow becomes more zonal, the colder airmass will push further east, with a return southerly wind and highs warming into the 30s to mid 40s.

While snow chances exist Wednesday through Friday, the highest NBM probability of greater than an inch is only 25 to around 30 percent Wednesday night into Thursday across the northwest Sandhills, and only 10 to 20 percent further south and east.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1152 AM CST Mon Dec 8 2025

VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period.

Increasing cloud cover is likely through the next 12 hours but ceilings are likely to remain at or above 5kft AGL. Gusty winds will likely develop this afternoon and could briefly surpass 35 knots at a few locations. For now, believe this threat is greatest across our northwestern zones and have omitted mention of any stronger magnitudes at either terminal. Towards the end of the period, stronger gusts will again develop but should peak just beyond the end of the period.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.