textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- The dangerous heat wave continues today and tomorrow, with today being the hottest day. Heat index values will likely exceed 105, pushing to 110 or greater along and east of Highway 83 this afternoon.

- Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions remain today, as the hot and dry conditions persist. Gusty conditions are also possible, and cannot rule out a dry lightning threat with any thunderstorm development this afternoon.

- Some storms today and tomorrow may become strong to severe across the region, with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat.

- Northwest flow Tuesday through Friday with daily shower and thunderstorm chances

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 138 AM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026

Upper level ridging remains in place, keeping all of western and north central Nebraska under a dangerous heat wave today into tomorrow. In fact, today will be the hottest day of the heat wave, as highs climb over 100 across the entire region. In addition to the ambient heat, relatively high dewpoints remain across the region, pushing heat indices even higher than yesterday. Along and east of Highway 83, heat index values are expected to exceed 105 degrees, with fairly widespread heat index values around 110 degrees or greater. This is unusually hot, even for this time of year. With how heat indices performed yesterday afternoon, the decision was made to expand the Extreme Heat Warning along the Highway 83 corridor. To the west, the Heat Advisory remains in effect, as heat index values are still expected to reach up to 105, and may even potentially briefly get warmer. Again worth stressing that this is unusually hot, even for late July. Those with outdoor plans need to take this dangerous heat into account with any plans. If possible, try to stay inside and stay cool during the afternoon hours, especially if you are sensitive to heat. The overnight hours will provide little relief, as lows only cool into the lower to mid 70s.

Along with the heat, conditions are expected to remain very dry, with low humidity across western Nebraska, especially west of Highway 61. Strong mixing in the boundary layer may support gusty winds of 20 to 30 mph throughout the day, bringing potential for elevated to near critical fire weather conditions. Given how hot and dry conditions have been, great care should be taken with any sources of sparks or flames.

In addition to the heat and fire weather concerns, there is potential for strong to severe thunderstorm development as well this afternoon and evening, especially across north central Nebraska. Forecast soundings indicate abundant instability aloft with very dry lower layers and abnormally high DCAPE values. This will support a strong wind gust threat with any developing thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours. With this threat, the SPC has issued a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) across north central Nebraska, with a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) extending back to the Highway 83 corridor. Rain chances still look rather sparse, especially given how dry the lower layers of the environment will be. This may also introduce a threat for dry lightning, which combined with the gusty, erratic winds, would increase fire weather concerns near thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

Some relief may finally arrive by Monday, as a cold front tracks into the region. Ahead of the front, the heat wave will continue throughout the day, with highs again climbing into the upper 90s to lower 100s. Heat index values may be slightly lower, generally remaining in the upper 90s to lower 100s, with greatest concern for heat index values around 105 (or potentially greater) across southwest Nebraska. The front also brings better chances for showers and thunderstorms across the region, especially Monday evening into the overnight hours. Given the environmental conditions, any thunderstorm will bring the risk for strong wind gusts, especially with the inverted V soundings and still higher DCAPE values across the region. However, slightly better moisture may also increase some precipitation potential. Overnight, some relief finally builds in, as lows are expected to drop into the mid 60s across western Nebraska. To the east of Highway 83, lows may still only fall into the lower 70s. While this is not as strong of an overnight cooling, this should still generally fall below Advisory criteria, so expect that headlines will remain on track to expire during the evening hours.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 138 AM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026

Upper level high pressure that was centered over the High Plains region will begin to retrogrades west, leaving the High Plains in a northwest flow mid week to the end of the week. With the region in northwest flow will see a series of disturbances move through the area bringing daily chances for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday through Friday. At this time storm development will likely be isolated to scattered, as any organized convective setup is low. The ridge become more amplified Friday with a stronger shortwave trof moving through on Friday. As far as fire weather concerns in the long term, expect fire weather conditions to remain low, despite the warm temperatures, as increase low level moisture will keep min RH values at 30 percent or higher.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1250 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2026

Outside of thunderstorms, VFR conditions are expected to prevail through tomorrow afternoon across western and north central Nebraska. Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorm development remains possible across the Sandhills this afternoon, moving into north central and central Nebraska with time. Any storms today will have a threat for brief MVFR visibilities and gusty, erratic winds.

A weak frontal boundary across the Sandhills will lead to northwest winds west of HWY 83 and southwesterly winds east of HWY 83, at 10 to 15kts. Winds then become light from the northeast overnight, at 5 to 10kts.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory until 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/ Monday for NEZ004- 022>024-035-036-056>058-069-070-094. Extreme Heat Warning until 7 AM CDT Monday for NEZ005>010- 025>029-037-038-059-071. Heat Advisory from 7 AM to 10 PM CDT Monday for NEZ005-008-009- 025>028-037-038-059-071.