textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Mild temperatures return for most of western Nebraska and the Sandhills today through the week

- Thursday will be the warmest day of the week with widespread 50s and 60s

- Low end precipitation chances on Tuesday

SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 359 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

Quiet weather is expected today with mild temperatures returning across western Nebraska and the Sandhills as an upper level ridge builds to the west. WAA will be the greatest across western Nebraska with highs reaching the mid to upper 50s.

LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 359 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

The upper level ridge remains in place across the western CONUS through the week, with modifying temperatures continuing through the end of the week. There will be a couple disturbances that translate across the High Plains, with the first early Tuesday and could bring a slight potential for precipitation in the form of light snow early Tuesday morning, and the other moves through Tuesday late afternoon/evening with a chance of light rain showers. However trends continue to suggest drier air in the lower levels, leading to low confidence in precipitation. Beyond the low end precip chances Tuesday, dry conditions are expected the remainder of the long term forecast.

Upper level ridge will slowly advance eastward with northwest flow continuing across the High Plains. Thursday continues to show a signal for extreme temperatures continuing the increase confidence in the potential for widespread 60 degree temperatures. Although temperatures still continue to be below record high criteria, generally 5 to 10 degrees too cool, given the increase confidence in the extreme temperatures, will need to continue to monitor guidance as temperatures may need to be adjusted higher to reflect the trend. Another concern on Thursday will be the fire weather potential, as winds will be breezy out of the northwest around 15 to 20 mph with gust up to 35 mph and min RH values around 20 to 25 percent across portions of southwest Nebraska could lead to near- critical fire weather concerns for Thursday afternoon. The warmer, above normal temperatures will continue into the weekend as the upper level ridge remains in places across the western CONUS.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/

Issued at 529 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

A brief one to two hour period of LLWS across the northern Sandhills including KVTN terminal will be possible this morning with gust up to 35 kts. Sfc winds will turn to the north around 10 kts with gust up to 15 kts across the northern Sandhills, elsewhere winds will be lighter, around 5 kts. Winds will become light and variable tonight with winds of 5 kts or less expected.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.