textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Rain changing to light snow is possible today, with light snow accumulations (Up to 1") possible across portions of southwest into central Nebraska.

- Additional round of light snow are possible on Friday and Saturday across western (Friday) and northern (Saturday) Nebraska, though little to no accumulations are expected.

- Dry and mild temperatures return early next week, with high temperatures expected to return back to well above average.

UPDATE

Issued at 826 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

Recent trends from short term high resolution guidance paired with surface observations suggest a decreased potential for wintry impacts including accumulating snow across west central Nebraska today.

Early morning observations show lingering dry air from the overnight hours. As the deep low pressure system lifts north and east into northeast Kansas, reinforcing dry air will settle down from off the surface. This will hinder most if not all precipitation from reaching the surface locally. Do anticipate some light precipitation potential still (up to 40%) for areas south and east of an Ogallala to O'Neill line, however, only periodic rain/snow mix if not briefly all snow appears likely and no accumulations are expected. Temperatures will reach the upper 30s to lower 40s this afternoon which should limit if not entirely prevent any slickness concerns.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 332 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

Currently, moisture is streaming into the area aloft in advance of an approaching upper shortwave. This upper shortwave is located over southeastern New Mexico, with an associated deepening surface low centered in southeastern Colorado. A cold front is pushing south into the Sandhills early this morning, with increasing northwest winds with its passage.

Today, the aforementioned upper shortwave will quickly eject northeast out of New Mexico this morning, reaching northwest Kansas by this afternoon. The associated surface low will move east across southern Kansas today, and into northwestern Missouri by this evening. As this surface low moves across Kansas, a deformation axis will lift north into portions of south central Nebraska. Guidance continues to suggest the bulk of this precipitation will remain off to the east of the area, though portions of southwest and central Nebraska east of HWY 83 will likely get a glancing blow of this deformation band. Precipitation in these areas will likely start as light rain this morning, transitioning to light snow by this afternoon as colder air filters in from the northwest. The system then begins to quickly exit off to the east by this evening, with any precipitation ending from west to east. In all, any rain and snow amounts will remain light, with total liquid amounts of <0.10" expected today. Associated snow amounts will remain light as well, with a dusting to as much as 1" across southwest into central Nebraska. A sharp cutoff is expected to the north and west of this deformation band, with much of the Sandhills likely remaining dry today.

A second system then lifts out of the Four Corners and across Kansas again through the day Friday. This second low looks weaker than the first, and tracks further southeast enough to keep the bulk of precipitation away from the area. Deformation precipitation is not expected to impact the area, with any precipitation restricted to western Nebraska as a stronger cold front pushes through the area. Any amounts look to remain light (a few hundredths at best), with a bulk of guidance remaining dry through much of the day Friday. Any precipitation quickly exits by Friday afternoon, as the system departs the area off to the east.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 332 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

The active regime persists into Saturday, as a strong upper low drops into the upper Midwest. As the upper trough axis swings through aloft, snow showers appear possible across portions of northern Nebraska. This is as low level lapse rates steepen, within a narrow corridor of low level moisture. Light snow accumulations are possible Saturday afternoon across northern Nebraska, though confidence in this is low for now. Impacts look limited, but trends will need to be monitored. This is especially true if these showers have any convective elements, leading to locally heavier snowfall rates.

Upper ridging amplifies across the western CONUS by late weekend, and this begins to translate east into the Plains early next week. This brings a return northwest flow aloft, pointing to a return of dry conditions as we head into next week. Temperatures also moderate across the area, with a quick return of well above average highs by Sunday and Monday. The dry and mild conditions persist into midweek, before colder air moves south into the upper Midwest middle to late week. As of now, the bulk of this cold air looks to stay off to the east of the area, with only a briefly cooler day Wednesday, with the above average highs returning by Thursday.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 520 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

A system impacts the area today, with low stratus leading to MVFR CIGs for terminals near and southeast of an LBF to ONL line. Light rain changing to snow is also possible southeast of this line, with periods of MVFR visibilities possible this afternoon. The system quickly exits this evening, with VFR returning for all terminals by tonight.

Winds strengthen from the northwest this afternoon, with gusts of 20 to 30kts expected. Winds weaken tonight, remaining northerly at 5 to 10kts.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.