textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- A cold start this morning, with wind chills ranging from near zero across southwest Nebraska to 15 below in north central Nebraska.

- A mostly dry forecast through the end of the week. Dry and windy conditions may lead to elevated fire weather concerns Tuesday.

- Highly variable highs temperatures this week, largely driven by an active upper level pattern. Chances of snow showers and cooler temperatures arrive by the end of the week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 357 AM CST Mon Jan 19 2026

High pressure is observed over the northern Plains, allowing a blast of cold air to track across the region. As of 3 AM, already observing temperatures in the low single digits across the Sandhills and northern Nebraska, with wind chills dropping 10 to 15 degrees below zero. These frigid temperatures are expected to last through mid to late morning, before a gradual warm up this afternoon. Highs range from the low 40s across southwest Nebraska to the mid 20s across north central Nebraska this afternoon. Westerly winds this morning will take a subtle shift to northwesterly by the evening, with winds this afternoon around 10 to 20 mph. Peak afternoon gusts across the Panhandle may reach up to 30 mph, however, higher humidity today should limit fire weather concerns.

As for Tuesday, elevated to near critical fire weather conditions return across portions of the Panhandle and southwest Nebraska. A warm front tracking through the region brings above seasonal temperatures across portions of western and southwestern Nebraska, with highs breaking into the low 50s. With these warmer temperatures, afternoon humidity values drop around 15 to 20 percent. Westerly to northwesterly winds gust up to around 30 to 35 mph across portions of western Nebraska.

Also of note for Tuesday will be a notable temperature gradient across the region. While portions of western and southwestern Nebraska are experiencing highs in the 50s, portions of north central Nebraska are expected to struggle to reach the mid 30s. This set up is expected throughout most of the week as well.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 357 AM CST Mon Jan 19 2026

The prevailing pattern this week features upper level ridging attempting to track across the western portions of the region, and upper level shortwaves bringing reinforcing shots of cooler air across the northern and eastern areas. While solutions are coming into better agreement, highly variable and fluctuating temperatures are expected Wednesday and Thursday. Will continue to track where the sharp temperature gradients set up, as this does lower confidence in daily high temperatures, depending where this gradient sets up. However, there is agreement in this being a dry pattern, with little to no precipitation expected region wide.

By late week, there is better consistency in the models on the timing of an upper level shortwave and arctic front tracking across the region. This will bring much cooler temperatures Friday and Saturday across the region. In fact, this could introduce another blast of subzero wind chills both Friday and Saturday morning, reaching at least 10 below across the region. Again, will need to monitor this forecast trend, as timing of the front is critical to some of these impacts. This system also introduces the next chances for snow showers across the region. However, there is still some disparity in ensemble guidance on whether or not this brings an inch or greater of snowfall. For now, the more optimistic solutions only highlight a 20 to 30 percent chance of one inch of snowfall, with more pessimistic solutions keeping this scenario under a 10 percent chance.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 530 AM CST Mon Jan 19 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail across western and north central Nebraska today and tonight. Currently, there is some low to mid level stratus tracking south across western and southwestern Nebraska, however, this is expected to be out of the region in the next few hours. Additional cloud cover tracks in later this evening, but is expected to remain low end VFR. By late morning into the afternoon, gusty northwest winds are expected across the region, with peak gusts around 25 knots near area terminals and up to 30 knots across the Panhandle. After sunset, winds lighten out of the northwest, before becoming light and variable near midnight.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.