textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Showers and a few thunderstorms likely today east of Highway 83. A few strong thunderstorms appear possible this evening across portions of the southeast panhandle and southwest Nebraska.

- Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across all of western and north central Nebraska Saturday afternoon and evening.

- Near daily chances for showers and thunderstorms Sunday through Thursday, with highs mainly in the low to mid 80s.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 121 AM CDT Fri May 29 2026

Ongoing showers early this morning, continue this morning with a few thunderstorms into this afternoon east of Highway 83, as a negatively tilted upper trough lifts northeast today. A closed upper level low will begin to pivot northeastward into the Intermountain West today. Scattered convection will develop across the higher terrain to the west this afternoon. It remains somewhat unclear how far east this convection will move this evening. CAMs have several different solutions, but with the more substantial lift associated with the system remaining west of the area, would expect that the solutions that keep much of the scattered activity west of Highway 83 seem the most reasonable. Overall shear into this evening is weak, and mid- level lapse rates only moderately steep, and severe storms are unlikely.

Saturday is somewhat unclear as well. There may be some isolated mid- level warm air advection shower activity around through the day as upper level forcing gradually increases with the approach of the system. As the system pivots northeastward through WY late Saturday afternoon and evening, scattered to numerous convection should materialize across the Western High Plains. At the surface, a warm front appears it will be located near or just north of the NE/KS border. Any storm that moves out of northeast CO near this boundary could pose an isolated tornado threat. Otherwise as ascent continues to increase Saturday evening, numerous showers and storms should develop to the north of the warm front along and north of I-80. These would be more elevated and could pose a hail threat as mid-level lapse rates steepen and overall shear increases, supportive of strong to severe storms. A Slight Risk covers much of the forecast area.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 121 AM CDT Fri May 29 2026

Sunday, the upper level low will remain across northern Wyoming into western Montana. A trough will extend east from the upper low across northern Nebraska into the mid-Missouri Valley 12Z Sunday and lift north into southern South Dakota by evening. A surface trough will move east, with southwesterly winds and dewpoints across the with west falling into the upper 30s to mid 40s. 20-40 POPs mainly across north central Nebraska. The upper level low will continue to rotate over Montana through Monday night, lifting into southern Saskatchewan Canada Tuesday night. Low chance to slight chance POPs at times Sunday night through Monday, with chance POPs Monday night, as a disturbance breaks down an upper ridge across Nebraska and Kansas. The upper level low will then migrate slowly east across southern Canada through Thursday. West-southwesterly flow aloft across the Northern and Central Plains will continue to bring chances for showers and thunderstorms, especially during the evening hours, with plenty of low level moisture in place. Highs Sunday through Thursday will range mainly in the low to mid 80s each day.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1216 PM CDT Fri May 29 2026

Showers and thunderstorms will develop and move into the region late this afternoon and into the evening. Confidence on how far east and north showers will move is still low. Any showers do have the potential for lightning and erratic winds resulting in some aviation concerns through the evening hours. Showers come to an end early Saturday morning, however, lingering moisture may create areas of fog development, especially across northern Nebraska. Fog will slowly dissipate by mid to late Saturday morning giving way to cloudy skies with ceilings below 2000 feet.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.