textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Precipitation overnight will end across the northeast this morning. - Another potential for light rain, especially across northern/northwest Nebraska tonight into Friday, with light snow possible northwest Sandhills Friday night. - Windy Friday into Saturday, with northwest winds 20 to 35 mph. - Dry and mild in the 60s Sunday, then cooling to near to slightly below normal temperatures Monday into Tuesday, with only a slight chance for light rain or light snow.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 233 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Today through Friday...Two upper level systems, one exiting the forecast area this morning and a second arriving later tonight into Friday will be the main drivers for precipitation over the next 36 hours. Mid and upper level forcing in association with a mid level shortwave, will lift into central Nebraska by 12z, entering eastern Nebraska by 15z Thursday. The threat for light precipitation will linger in the eastern forecast area through 18z before exiting the area. In the wake of the exiting upper level disturbance, low amplitude ridging will transition east with the ridge axis reaching the western third of Nebraska by 21z this afternoon. This feature will force a warm front into the western third of the forecast area by mid to late afternoon. Temperatures will vary widely across the forecast area this afternoon. Readings will struggle to reach the middle 40s in the northeast as cloud cover will persist into the afternoon hours. Highs in the far southwest will approach 70 for Imperial. Immediately west of the ridge, a H5 closed low will track from Idaho into western Wyoming this afternoon. Mid level warm air advection in advance of this feature will overspread the panhandle and northwestern Nebraska beginning late this afternoon. As for precipitation chances they were lowered some this afternoon as the expected onset of precipitation should hold off until after 00z Friday. Mid level warm air advection will continue across the northern third of Nebraska tonight as the H5 low tracks across northern Wyoming. As for ptypes tonight, temperatures will be warm enough to facilitate all rain. However, forecast soundings do indicate some warmer air, over-running a sub-freezing boundary layer in far northern Nebraska overnight. I did go ahead and put in a mention of freezing rain. ATTM: With QPF's very light-only a few hundredths of an inch and temps hovering right at the freezing mark, believe impacts will be minimal. On Friday, the upper level low will track across southern South Dakota, ending up over south central portions of the state by 00z Saturday. As for precipitation chances Friday, I went ahead and tightened up pops and generally confined them to the northern half of the forecast area. ATTM, the greatest threat for precipitation will be across northern Nebraska where the best threat for wrap- around precipitation is greatest. Temperatures on the western periphery of the low will cool Friday afternoon, increasing the threat for snow over the northwestern forecast area. With forecast temperatures in the middle 30s, the threat for accumulating snows through 00z Saturday is fairly low.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 233 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

The GFS, NAM and ECMWF are in close agreement tracking an H5 low from south central South Dakota early Friday evening into northeastern South Dakota at 12Z Saturday.

Likely POPs across the northwest Sandhills Friday evening, with chance POPs across the remainder of north central Nebraska. With colder H85 temperatures around -5C, the Pine Ridge area in Sheridan County will be the most favorable area to receive light snow accumulations, potential up to an inch or two Friday evening. the remainder of far northern Nebraska can expected little if any accumulation. With the area south of the H5 low track Friday night, and largely within a dry slot, only north central Nebraska is expected to receive any light precipitation, mainly in the form of light snow.

The system quickly exits the region, with dry and windy conditions Saturday. A fairly tight H7 gradient across all of western and nctrl NE. Expecting northwest winds of 20 to 35 mph, as the NBM forecast ensemble gives a 60 to 90 percent probability of wind gusts exceeding 30 mph. Highs Saturday will be 5 to 10 degrees below normal (mid to upper 40s) across northeastern areas, to 3 to 5 degrees above normal (60 to 65 degrees) in the southwest.

Sunday will see a warmup, ahead of cooler air dropping south through the Dakotas. Highs forecast to reach the upper 50s to upper 60s.

Cooler Monday and Tuesday and high pressure migrates from the Northern Plains into the Mid Mississippi Valley. Highs from the upper 40s to lower 50s north to 60 to 65 southwest Monday, then mid to upper 60s west and mid to upper 50s east on Tuesday. There will be a slight chance for precipitation from early monday through Tuesday, with light snow possible during the nightime into the morning hours.

Wednesday look dry and much warmer as an upper ridge build into the region with highs from the upper 60s to upper 70s.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 626 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

IFR ceilings will be the main aviation concern this morning. At KVTN, ceilings as low as BKN004 until 17Z. AT KLBF, -RA through 13Z as light rain showers move across southwestern Nebraska. Ceilings BKN008 OVC050 clearing out by 16Z with VFR conditions. Ceilings at KVTN and KLBF may improve to VFR sooner. LLWS of WS020/16045KT is expected 04Z-09Z Friday at KLBF.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.