textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered thunderstorms are possible this evening and tonight, primarily across portions of north central Nebraska. A few storms could be strong to severe with large hail and damaging winds.

- Additional scattered thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening. A few of these storms could be strong to severe with large hail and damaging winds.

- A threat for thunderstorms may persist nearly each day for middle to late week, though confidence in this remains low for now.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 302 AM CDT Mon Jun 29 2026

Currently, elevated supercells persist across portions of northwest Nebraska, within a broad and strong upslope regime aloft. These storms will continue to present a threat of large to very large hail and damaging winds over the next few hours, mainly west of HWY 61. After these storms move into South Dakota, the threat for severe weather will end until at least late this evening and tonight.

For today, expect highs to range from the lower 80s in northwest Nebraska to the lower 90s in central and north central Nebraska. This is due to a cold front, currently positioned across the Panhandle, moving east across the area this afternoon. Exactly where this boundary is positioned by late afternoon will drive the threat of any thunderstorms prior to sunset, and at this time it appears this will largely be east of the local area. Guidance has begun to suggest that this boundary will clear the area to the east by mid- afternoon, and keep thunderstorms east of the area through sunset.

The treat for increasing fire weather will also need to be monitored this afternoon, as much drier air is ushered into western Nebraska behind the cold front. This will push dewpoints into the lower to middle 30s across the eastern Panhandle and western Sandhills. The combination of this and highs in the 80s will push humidity as low as the upper teens and low 20s. With a deep surface low expected to move northeast out of the Sandhills and into eastern South Dakota by late afternoon, an increased surface pressure gradient will lead to increasing westerly wind gusts as well. This overlap of gusty west winds and low humidity could lead to elevated to near critical fire weather concerns, especially for any areas north of Interstate 80 that missed out on recent beneficial rainfall.

After sunset this evening, another round of thunderstorms appears possible across north central Nebraska aided by a strengthening southerly low level jet centered over south central Nebraska. Should any storms form within this warm advection regime, strong deep layer shear and ample MUCAPE should support a threat for large hail and potentially damaging winds overnight into Tuesday morning.

Broad upslope post-frontal flow establishes across the area by Tuesday afternoon, and this again could lead to scattered thunderstorm development by late Tuesday afternoon and again into Tuesday night across portions of western and southwest Nebraska. With yet another strong southerly low level jet expected to develop Tuesday night, this ongoing convection will likely be aided and could persist through much of the overnight hours into early Wednesday morning. With ample instability and deep layer shear remaining in place, a threat for large hail and damaging winds appears possible across much of the area Tuesday.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 302 AM CDT Mon Jun 29 2026

At least some threat for near daily thunderstorms looks to persist as we head into middle and late week, as winds aloft remain strong enough to support organized updrafts and consequently some threat for strong to severe storms. The deeper moisture looks to largely remain in place as well, with dewpoints remaining in the upper 60s to lower 70s through much of the late week and weekend period. This will promote strong instability near daily, and again supports some continued threat of strong storms.

Upper ridging then finally begins to establish by late weekend and into early next week, and leads to weaker winds aloft across the area. This may finally bring at least a brief reprieve of the near daily severe weather threats, though confidence remains low for now. This looks to also keep the warm and humid conditions in place, and could bring some threat of increasing heat concerns.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 615 AM CDT Mon Jun 29 2026

Low stratus persists for a few more hours across portions of the Sandhills and northern Nebraska, with low-end VFR and MVFR CIGs expected to continue. A return to VFR is expected by late morning, and VFR is then expected to prevail for all terminals through tomorrow morning.

Winds shift from southerly to northwest by late this morning, and then to westerly this afternoon. Strong westerly wind gusts are then expected this afternoon for terminals north of Interstate 80, as high as 25 to 35kts.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.