textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Mild temperatures will continue through the week into the weekend

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

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 401 AM CST Wed Feb 4 2026

Lingering precipitation will come to an end this morning. The upper level ridge across the western CONUS will bring northwesterly downslope flow that will continue to bring warmer above normal temperatures for today. Did keep temperatures cooler across the north central Nebraska however, as low clouds will linger through most of the day and keep temperatures cooler, highs across north central Nebraska will be in the upper 30s. The rest of western Nebraska into the Sandhills will be in the 40s to low 50s.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 401 AM CST Wed Feb 4 2026

Ridge continues to build to the west and slowly start to move eastward through the week into the weekend. Thursday temperatures continue to trend towards extreme temperatures with widespread upper 50s to mid 60s expected. There is even the potential for temperatures to be near records for 3 of the 4 climate sites. A weak front pushes in Friday, although temperatures will remain above normal, they will be slightly cooler than Thursday, with the coolest temperatures across north central Nebraska where highs will be in the mid 40s.

The ridge will move east towards the central CONUS by the weekend. EFI and SoT continues to increase the potential for extreme temperatures to continue to spread eastward through the weekend for all of western and north central Nebraska with the trend continuing into early next week. Forecast highs will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s Saturday through Monday, and if current trends continue, could potentially see even warmer temperatures this weekend.

As for precipitation chances, dry conditions are expected through the weekend into Monday. There will be elevated fire weather concerns Thursday and again during the weekend, with the combination of above normal temperatures, dry conditions and breezy winds.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 551 AM CST Wed Feb 4 2026

Lower cigs will stick around across north central Nebraska this morning into early afternoon with MVFR conditions. Further south across the southern Sandhills and western Nebraska lower lingering cigs should lift by mid morning with VFR conditions. Winds will be out of the west to northwest today around 10 to 15 kts. LLWS will be possible overnight for both KVTN and KLBF terminals, with winds off the surface out of the northwest up to 45 kts.

CLIMATE

Issued at 401 AM CST Wed Feb 4 2026

Well above normal temperatures expected for Thursday and will be nearing record highs on Thursday for North Platte, Broken Bow and Valentine. The current forecast has high temperatures in the mid to upper 60s across western and southwest Nebraska and in the low to mid 60s across the Sandhills. Here are the record highs for the four climate sites along with the forecast high temperature for Thursday.

...........Forecast High.....Record High................

North Platte....66 degrees...69 degrees(1904) Broken Bow......65 degrees...66 degrees(2009)

Valentine.......64 degrees...68 degrees(1963)

Imperial........66 degrees...74 degrees(1904)

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.