textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Warm and mainly dry conditions Sunday through Thursday, with highs ranging in the 60s to low 70s through Tuesday. Highs in the 70s Wednesday and Thursday.

- An upper level trough and cold front will approach the region late week, bringing chances for showers and a few thunderstorms Thursday night through Saturday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 136 PM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

Tonight...Surface low pressure will reside from central SD, through the western panhandle into eastern CO. This will bring gusty southwest winds up to 25 mph through the evening, slowly diminishing overnight across north central NE, helping keep the boundary layer mixed. Went with the cooler BCCONSShort, with lows around 40 nctrl to the mid 30s southwest, where winds remain light, along with areas of frost.

Sunday and Sunday night...A weak cold front will stall out across the central Sandhills Sunday afternoon, with the warmer temperatures near the surface front. Highs will remain mild in the mid 60s to low 70s with sunny skies.

Monday...Southwest flow aloft across the region, with a disturbance moving across the Four Corners Region. Mixing will be very limited, as winds remain light and variable, becoming light southeast late afternoon. Highs in the low to mid 60s.

LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 136 PM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

Monday night into Tuesday...The disturbance over the Four Corners will move into and through the region. This will bring an increase in mid and high cloudiness. Remains a dry forecast, with showers,if any, expected to remain southeast of the area. Surface low pressure deepening along the Front Range will bring a return of southerly winds 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Highs warmer from the upper 60s to lower 70s.

Wednesday and beyond...Upper troughing will persist across the western U.S. with a closed low of the coast of southern California by Wednesday. Upper ridging will amplify into Thursday across the Central U.S. Highs warm into the 70s Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday night through Saturday, the western US upper trough/closed low will advance east across the Rockies by late Friday, bringing an increase in moisture, with dewpoints in the 50s Thursday night and Friday. Could see a few showers in advance of the system Thursday night, with increased chances for showers and a few thunderstorms Friday afternoon through Saturday. A cold front is forecast to move into the area Saturday. Highs in the 70s to near 80 Friday, cool into the 60s to near 70 by next Saturday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1229 PM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

VFR conditions with clear skies the next 24 hours across all of western and north central Nebraska. Southwest winds 15G25KT until 23Z at KLBF, then lighter winds overnight into Sunday morning. At KVTN, Southwest winds 15G25KT, remaining gusty to around 20KT until 10Z, then a light southwest wind into Sunday morning.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.