textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold weather continues through Sunday night. A reinforcing batch of arctic air will likely lead to a cold weather advisory Sunday night.

- A dusting of light snow is expected across far western Nebraska Sunday. Better chances for light accumulation will be nearer the Front Range.

- Dry and warmer weather is expected for much of next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 342 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

The cold weather will continue to be the main story through Sunday night and into Monday morning. A weak area of surface low pressure develops and moves eastward tonight across southern South Dakota. Light southwest flow at the surface will persist tonight south of this low across much of western and north central Nebraska. As the low moves into northeast Nebraska, then winds shift to the northwest around sunrise across northern Nebraska and then spread southward through the day Sunday. Weak low-level warm air advection should help temperatures steady off near zero across the Sandhills tonight, with areas around the Sandhills dipping to as low as 5 below zero. Winds appear light enough that wind chill readings will largely stay above Cold Air Advisory thresholds and not planning to issue one for tonight. Will have to monitor in case temperatures end up colder, but increasing clouds from the northwest after midnight, combined with the weak WAA should be enough to keep the area advisory free for tonight.

As the weak surface low tracks to the east tomorrow, surface high pressure will build into the area through the day Sunday and into Sunday night. The next batch of colder arctic air will filter south into the area Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Although winds will be in the process of decreasing Sunday night, air temperatures will drop to between 5 and 10 below, so even the light winds will likely cause wind chill values to drop into the 20 to 25 below range. A Cold Weather Advisory will likely be needed for this.

As far as snow, expecting very little across our area. The higher probabilities of seeing accumulation will be farther to the west nearer the front range. An area of mid-level FGEN will become established from northwest to southeast across western Nebraska Sunday morning and linger through the afternoon hours. Despite high snow to liquid ratios, there just doesn't appear there will be much more than a dusting. HREF probs don't have much of anything for 1/2" or greater and just a low probability of seeing a tenth of an inch.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 342 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

Northwest flow aloft looks to persist for much of the coming workweek. A warming trend is likely, especially across western Nebraska. Here, expect temperatures to climb above the freezing mark each day, with Wednesday seeing highs well into the 40s and perhaps nearing 50. Farther to the east, a couple of weak surges of Canadian air will keep highs on the colder side. It appears that Monday will be the warmest day for eastern portions of north central Nebraska, when highs in the mid 30s are expected. Otherwise highs in that area will likely remain in the upper 20s through the remainder of the workweek. Little if any chance of precipitation within the dry, northwest flow aloft.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1154 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

VFR conditions will prevail today into tonight across all of western and north central Nebraska. The next cold front will dive southward Sunday morning. Along with it will be the potential for MVFR ceilings across northern Nebraska into portions of the Sandhills. Light winds will switch to the north at 10-20 kts Sunday morning as the front crosses the area.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.