textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- A light wintry mix of precipitation will be possible across portions of the Sandhills and north central Nebraska tonight.

- Cold temperatures can be expected Wednesday and Wednesday night behind the cold front.

- A mostly dry forecast is expected Thursday into the first of next week. Highs will range from above normal across western Nebraska to near or slightly below across northeast Nebraska.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 320 PM CST Tue Dec 2 2025

A weak shortwave will cross the northern and central plains tonight into Wednesday morning. Strong canadian high pressure will dive into western North Dakota by Wednesday morning in the wake of the shortwave. A cold front will dive southward through the area tonight into Wednesday morning. Sounding profiles suggest there could be a brief period of light freezing drizzle just behind the front, but then a transition to light snow or flurries as the column cools further. Any snow accumulation will be very light, mainly just a dusting. The exception will be across the Pine Ridge - where enhancement from orographic lift could lead to amounts nearing 1 inch by Wednesday morning before ending.

As the Canadian high pressure continues to build southward (located across eastern South Dakota by Wednesday afternoon) cold air will continue to filter into the area. In fact, temperatures will likely fall through much of the day, with the warmest temperatures during the morning hours. Winds won't be overly strong behind the front (in the 10-20 mph range) but with the falling temperatures, expect wind chills in the single digits across north central Nebraska by Wednesday afternoon. The surface high settles into eastern Nebraska Wednesday night. As skies clear expect a very cold night, with lows ranging from 0 to 5 above across north central Nebraska...to the mid teens across southwest Nebraska. Return southerly low-level flow will develop overnight Wednesday on the backside of the high. As winds increase, sub zero wind chills can be expected across north central Nebraska.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 320 PM CST Tue Dec 2 2025

Northwest flow aloft develops Thursday and continues right though the coming weekend and into the first of next week. A couple of weak shortwaves will be embedded within the flow, which will drive a couple of weak cold fronts southward through the area. Overall precipitation chances look minimal at this point. Any light precipitation that may occur would mainly be confined to northern portions of Nebraska. High temperatures through the period will be warmest across western and southwest Nebraska, where highs daily should reach the 40s to lower 50s. Portions of north central Nebraska will be most affected by the colder shots, especially on Sunday, when highs may struggle out of the 20s. Otherwise expect mid 30s to mid 40s for high temperatures.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 542 PM CST Tue Dec 2 2025

MVFR to IFR conditions will be possible overnight as cigs lower as the front moves south. There will also be a very slight chance of light snow and freezing drizzle tonight, across portions of north central Nebraska, and could possible impact KVTN terminal, but given the uncertainty have left the mention out of the tafs for now. Winds over the next 24 hours will generally be from the north around 5 to 10 kts, with some gust up to 15 kts across the northern Sandhills.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.