textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Some light snow will return on Saturday across areas mainly north of Highway 2.

- Temperatures remain near normal today and Saturday before gradually increasing through next week.

- Outside of some isolated showers Tuesday night, dry conditions also return to the region through next Thursday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 403 AM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

Surface high pressure will build into the region today bringing a return to dry conditions. Mostly cloudy skies will keep temperatures near normal (upper 30s to low 40s) across the region. However, this dry period will be brief as the next upper level low develops across the northern Plains. This disturbance will bring some light snow to portions of northern Nebraska, mainly north of Highway 2 on Saturday. With temperatures on Saturday remaining near freezing, precipitation will fall as all snow. Accumulations will be light with only around a half inch expected across extreme northern Nebraska with lesser amounts as one heads south. Although, the latest probabilities do suggest near 45 to 50 percent chance of seeing over a half inch across northern Nebraska. Therefore, could not be surprised to see accumulations increase a bit over the next forecast cycle. Despite the rather minimal accumulations expected, northwest winds are expected to gust up to 25 to 30 mph which may cause some blowing snow as well as visibility concerns. Those traveling on Saturday should allow for extra time and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. Further to the south, precipitation is not anticipated at this time and with some scattering out of clouds during the day on Saturday, temperatures will actually rise above normals into the mid to upper 40s.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 403 AM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

Strong upper level ridging across the western US will allow for surface high pressure to build across the Great Plains starting on Sunday. This will bring dry conditions through much of next week as well as a gradual increase in temperatures. With 850 mb temperatures generally in the 8 to 12 C range, surface highs will easily be able to climb back above normals into the 50s by the beginning of next week. Some locations across southwest Nebraska could even see some highs in the low 60s early next week.

While the majority of the week is expected to remain dry, there is some low end precipitation chances across northern Nebraska on Tuesday night as a trough digs across the western Great Lakes. The bulk of the precipitation will remain off to the east over Minnesota and Iowa, but some weak forcing to the southwest could result in some light precipitation. With the warmer temperatures expected through next week, current expectation is that precip type will remain all rain, with only a brief window where it could become a mix late Tuesday night. At this time accumulations are uncertain, but with the warmer temperatures and rain falling before changeover to snow, not expecting accumulations to be significant.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 558 AM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

Dry and VFR conditions are expected through Friday evening. Across northern Nebraska, some stronger northwest winds are expected during the afternoon with gusts up to 25 knots. A return to some light snow will also impact northern Nebraska by Saturday morning. At this time, arrival into the KVTN area should remain after 12Z Saturday.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.