textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Widely scattered thunderstorms are possible this evening, near and west of Highway 61. A few storms could be strong to briefly severe, with a threat for hail and strong winds.

- Temperatures warm into the mid 80s to near 90 across the west Saturday afternoon with chances (up to 30%) for thunderstorms across the western Sandhills and southwest into north central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours. Any storms that develop could become severe, and contain large hail and damaging winds.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 237 PM CDT Fri Jun 26 2026

This evening...Widely scattered thunderstorms will move into portions of the western Sandhills, mainly west of Highway 61. A few storms could be strong to briefly severe, with hail and strong winds. As these storms attempt to move further east after sunset, a strong cap and weakening instability will see storms weaken and decay. A low-level jet will develop, maintaining a breezy south wind, especially across north central Nebraska. Stratus will return again after midnight tonight. With a mixed boundary layer, fog development appears very limited. Lows tonight near 60.

Saturday/Saturday Night...broad upper level troughing will cross the Northern Rockies by Saturday morning with height falls occurring during the afternoon across the Northern Plains and Central High Plains. Surface low pressure will deepen to as low as 988mb across far sern WY and nern CO. This will bring a moist south/southeast wind 15 to 30 mph and warm air advection. Highs will reach the upper 70s northeast, to the upper 80s/near 90 far western zones. By mid afternoon, a sharp dryline will approach our western zones and will be a focus for thunderstorm development late in the afternoon. Strong instability with SBCAPEs from 3000 to over 4000 J/kg are likely along with 40 knots of 0-6km shear. Temperatures in the mid- levels, particularly at h7, will be warm, near 14C. This suggests a fairly strong cap to limit the overall coverage of storms. The latest CAMS, do initiate storms in the far western zones by 22Z with an eastward movement in the evening. Introduced a slight chance for thunderstorms across the western Sandhills and southwest during the evening. A Marginal Risk covers all of western and north central Nebraska. So while coverage will be limited, any storms which develop will have the potential to become severe, with large hail and damaging winds. A tornado or two is also possible with any discrete storms, mainly west of Highway 83. Mild overnight lows in the mid to upper 60s across the east.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 237 PM CDT Fri Jun 26 2026

A strong warmup on Sunday into the low 90s, with mid 90s possible southwest. An upper trough will be in place across the Intermountain West, and upper ridge centered over the Southeastern U.S. Deep surface low pressure near 990mb will develop across northeast CO. Interestingly, the GFS has the surface low to near 982mb! Dry conditions and sunny skies expected.

Active weather looks to return during the evening and overnight hours Monday night through Thursday night. An upper trough will move across the Northern Plains Monday, temporarily bringing in drier air and less hot temperatures in the upper 80s. Upper troughing across the Western U.S, and a strong upper ridge across the Southeastern U.S. will keep western Nebraska in southwesterly flow aloft each day next week. Storm develop will be focused in the evening and overnight through Thursday night. Highs should return to the low 90s Wednesday and the low to mid 90s Thursday, and mid to upper 90s Friday.

Looking beyond Friday, into Independence Day weekend, the upper ridge is progged to build westward into Central and Southern Plains with continued hot temperatures.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 659 PM CDT Fri Jun 26 2026

MVFR ceilings with localized IFR will persist and or develop across much of western and north central Nebraska through Saturday morning. VFR should prevail most areas by Saturday afternoon. Otherwise gusty southerly surface winds are expected Saturday.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.