textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Potential for light snow Friday and Saturday

- Wind chills below zero tonight into Saturday morning

- Temperatures will begin to warm up Sunday through the week, with warmest temperatures on Thursday and Friday

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 301 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

The main concern in the short term will be the chance for light snowfall today and wind chills tonight into early Saturday. A front is currently stalled across the Sandhills but sfc high pressure will move the front westward along with precipitation chances through the day. Soundings are fairly moist above 850mb but a little drier in the lowest levels, leading to some lower confidence in how widespread precipitation chances will be as the system moves westward. Models have also been inconsistent with precipitation development later into the afternoon, thus have kept PoP chances generally less than 30 percent. Snow is expected to end by late afternoon/early evening with a lull in precipitation until early Saturday morning.

As far as wind chills for tonight. Decided to hold off on issuing any cold weather headlines for now. Although there will increasing CAA Friday into Friday night, confidence is low in reaching criteria. As right now only a few sites briefly hit 20 degrees below zero, only for 1 or 2 hours. The coldest wind chills are expected in the early morning hours, however a few factors may help keep wind chills from dipping to the -20 threshold, as clouds will be moving eastward through the overnight and if winds stay just a a couple mph lighter, wind chills will stay warmer, thus given the uncertainty and lower confidence and collaboration with neighboring offices, will not be issuing cold weather headlines with this forecast package.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 301 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

A system will move through Saturday morning bringing chances for precipitation across western Nebraska in the morning, then spreading eastward in the afternoon. At this time precipitation type looks to stay mostly snow, with portions of western Nebraska turning into rain as temperatures warm up in the afternoon across the west. South to southwesterly winds will moderate temperatures generally west of HWY 83, into the upper 30s to near 50 degrees. Areas east of HWY 83 will stay cooler with highs only int the low to mid 30s. As far as snow accumulations, snowfall amounts will remain light on Saturday with only a half inch or less expected. An upper level ridge begins to build in across the west and temperatures will warm into the 40s to 50s Sunday through Tuesday. The ridge will move eastward on Thursday and Friday with highs reaching the upper 50s to low 60s across western and southwest Nebraska.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 542 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Light snow will be possible periodically through the forecast period. Cigs will also lower tonight with the combination of lower cigs and lower visibility from snowfall leading to MVFR to IFR conditions across portions of western and north central Nebraska, including both KVTN and KLBF terminals through late this afternoon. Cigs will lift this evening with VFR conditions returning this evening and tonight. Winds will be out of the east around 5 to 10 kts today, switching to the south around 10 kts Saturday morning.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.