textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGE

- Cooler today then warmer with increasing humidity Saturday. The increase in humidity should help to initiate at least widely scattered afternoon thunderstorms across far western Nebraska. This activity will move eastward across the area Saturday night.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 255 AM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

Cooler conditions will be in store for the area today. High pressure settles through the Mississippi River Valley, with a cool easterly low-level flow to persist across our area through the day. A significant warm-up is expected Saturday as southerly low-level flow and strong WAA develops. Highs well into the 70s are expected at most locations. A surge of higher dew points (into the upper 40s and 50s) should limit the overall fire weather concerns. With the surge in moisture will come an increase in low clouds. A bit of concern as to how fast they will burn off and erode to the east. Appears that deeper mixing by midday should help with clearing.

With the clearing will come an increase in surface based instability. Mid-level lapse rates will steepen through the day, and an axis of 1500+ J/KG should develop along and east of a line from Imperial to Ogallala to Hyannis. Shear profiles within this region are decent, with 0-6 km values of 30+ kts. Convergence will increase along the dryline by late afternoon. It appears initial convective development will take place near the dryline where steep low-level lapse rates will reside. Storms will be high based initially, with bases likely lowering some as they move east-northeastward into the better low-level moisture. Could be a brief window for dry lightning when storms first initiate, but that threat should quickly end as they move into the deeper moisture. Overall not expecting a lot of storms, but at least widely scattered activity, with perhaps a storm or two taking on supercell characteristics through the evening hours as they move eastward into an increasingly strong southerly low- level jet.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 255 AM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

Low pressure will track from North Dakota into Minnesota on Sunday forcing a warm front and moisture front (pseudo dryline) into eastern Nebraska. Across western and north central Nebraska, dry boundary layer air will be in place. This dry air, coupled with expected highs in the lower 80s Sunday, will lead to low afternoon relative humidities across the area. The combination of low relative humidity and possible wind gusts up to 25 MPH may lead to near critical or critical fire weather conditions Sunday afternoon in the western Sandhills and far SW Nebraska. Monday will feature slightly cooler highs with readings around 80. A dry airmass will continue to be located over the high plains with low level moisture residing over far eastern Nebraska. This will result in another day of low relative humidities across the area. Winds appear lighter Monday which will alleviate fire weather concerns across the area. By Tuesday, an upper level trough of low pressure will cross the Four Corners, approaching the Central Plains Tuesday afternoon. Forcing east of this approaching shortwave trough and increasing amounts of meager low level moisture, will lead to the best chances for precipitation in the extended periods. The latest NBM ensembles indicate a better than 60 percent chance of measurable pcpn. Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. When this threshold is increased to a tenth of an inch, the probabilities fall off into the 30 percent range. ATTM, the threat for measurable precipitation looks promising, however a wetting rain appears unlikely ATTM. High temperatures will fall back into the 70s for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Low level moisture Tuesday, will alleviate fire weather concerns, however, drier air is expected behind the exiting shortwave trough Wednesday and Thursday, will lead to elevated fire weather conditions. Will need to watch wind potential those days as well as this will be a factor in near critical or critical fire weather conditions Wednesday and Thursday.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1202 AM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

Mid and upper level clouds will increase today across western and north central Nebraska. For the KLBF terminal: Broken ceilings around 12000 FT AGL will develop by mid morning. Ceilings will fall to around 5000 FT AGL by later afternoon. Later this evening ceilings will fall to 1500 to 2000 FT AGL after 03z. For the KVTN terminal: Scattered to broken ceilings around 12000 FT AGL will develop late this morning and persist into the afternoon hours. Some limited clearing is expected by evening with scattered clouds around 10000 FT AGL.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.