textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Dangerously cold temperatures continue tonight into Saturday morning with Cold Weather Advisories in effect.

- Light, steady snowfall will persist across the central Sandhills into southwest Nebraska tonight where up to two inches of total snow is possible.

- Cold temperatures continue this weekend through Monday morning with sub-zero wind chills expected, but seasonable temperatures in the low 30s to low 40s return Monday afternoon.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 257 PM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

Light snow will continue tonight, mainly near and south of Highway 2. The snow which has fallen today has had very small snowflakes, limiting accumulations. This is attributed to near surface temperatures -18C to -20C and relatively low SLR ratios near 15:1. Weak isentropic upglide continues this evening across the central and southern zones, with weak downglide after midnight. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect across portions of the northwest and central Sandhills. This includes Sheridan, western Cherry, Grant, Hooker, Thomas, Blaine, Loup, McPherson, Logan, and Custer County, where additional snowfall amounts will be an inch or less. Areas to the south can expect an additional dusting up to a half inch.

Lows tonight 5 below to near 10 below. Winds light and variable to light south, with wind chills 15 below to 25 below into Saturday morning. A cold Weather Advisory remains in effect tonight until 18Z Saturday.

Saturday will remain very cold, though not a cold with highs near 10 above southeast, to the teens across the western and northwest Sandhills. skies mostly sunny northwest, while clouds persist across the southeast.

Another reinforcing shot of arctic air will drop through South Dakota into north central Nebraska Saturday night with increasing clouds. Lows still quite cold from near zero north to around 5 below southeast. Wind chills as low as 15 below.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 257 PM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

Reinforcing arctic air will move in Sunday with highs near 10 above north central to the teens south. A chance for light snow returns to the panhandle and southwest, as an upper trough drop through South Dakota and Wyoming. With lows Sunday night near 10 below, wind chill values will fall to around 20 below. This may bring the need for a Cold Weather Advisory and will monitor with upcoming forecasts.

A return of warmer temperatures Monday through Wednesday into the upper 20s/lower 30s northeast and lower to mid 40s southwest. Colder Thursday and Friday as a large upper trough drops through the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Highs by next Friday forecast to fall to the 20s to low 30s. Deterministic models suggest temperatures could be even colder.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1129 PM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

Light snow continues across mainly the southern Sandhills through southwest Nebraska. The combination of snow and lower ceilings should allow MVFR conditions to last through daybreak over these areas. Beyond midday, expect CIGs to improve with VFR conditions favored. Mid-level stratus may return late in the period but should remain safely in VFR criteria.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST /11 AM MST/ Saturday for NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST /5 AM MST/ Saturday for NEZ004-023>027-036>038-094.