textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Another cold night is expected tonight into Monday with wind chill readings falling into the 20 to 25 degrees below zero range, prompting Cold Weather Advisories.

- Temperatures quickly rebound to seasonable values by Monday but return to above normal values for Tuesday through the following weekend.

- Dry conditions appear likely to continue over the next 7 days, with little impacts expected for the New Year holiday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 203 PM CST Sun Dec 28 2025

Upper-level low spins across the Dakotas early Sunday afternoon. This feature continues to shuffle southeast as surface high pressure noses in from the northwest. Temperatures have struggled to warm much today, undercutting much of the colder NWP outputs, thanks to strong cold air advection (CAA). This has resulted in afternoon readings only in the low teens across our northern zones and middle 20s across southwest Nebraska as of 1930z (0130pm CST). The CAA has helped produce some strong gusts across the local area. After a peak closer to sunrise this morning, magnitudes have generally settles in the 30 to 40 mph range out of the north-northwest. Combined with the colder temperatures and many locations have failed to reach positive values on wind chills. This will continue to be an issue as we head into tonight.

For tonight...the cutoff h5 low will cross central South Dakota later this afternoon and evening. Wrap around moisture in the form of clouds will filter into northern Nebraska as the low center passes over ONL. Cannot completely rule out stray flurries for areas along and north of Highway 20 but with fairly abundant dry air in the lower levels, will keep mention out of the forecast. Clouds should slowly erode from west to east leaving clear skies for the bulk of the overnight. Though CAA will wane as the core of cold air shifts to the east, strong flow in close proximity of the upper- level low will persist. This will translate to a fairly breezy overnight period. Forecast soundings show little to no decoupling of the boundary layer tonight with 30+ knot flow roughly 1kft AGL. Leaned heavily on NBM/NAM/RAP guidance for winds overnight which produces 10-20 mph sustained winds and gusts in the 25-35 mph range, strongest east of Highway 83. HREF probabilities of exceeding 15 mph sustained speeds are nearly 100% for areas east of Highway 61 until 09-10z (3-4am CST) with a slow decrease west to east thereafter. Lowered overnight lows using NBM 25th plus MET guidance, which seems to be handling this short cold snap the best. This produced values around -5 to 5F for the Sandhills and closer to 5-10F for southwest Nebraska. These colder lows and the threat for sustained winds overnight increases concerns for cold wind chills. The latest forecast calls for -25 to -20F for much of the Sandhills into north central Nebraska and as a result, have elected to issue a Cold Weather Advisory. Folks should be prepared for the temperatures and take adequate precautions if necessary to be out in them.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 203 PM CST Sun Dec 28 2025

Overall, dry and warmer conditions are expected through the extended period into 2026.

Behind the now departed trough, strong height rises will fill in across the region early tomorrow. This will be reinforced as amplified ridging builds across the western CONUS. Though northwesterly flow will become reestablished for the region, high pressure aloft to the southwest will nose in bringing with it mild air and repeated westerly downslope flow patterns. This favors above normal temperatures with little if any threat for precipitation. High temperatures climb into the upper 20s to lower 40s east to west on Monday but continue to climb to the 40s and 50s each day Tuesday through Sunday. The only exception to this could be Thursday where a backdoor cold front may invade north central Nebraska and hold readings into the 30s. Even should this materialize, any threat for precipitation will be more tied to passing upper-level shortwaves which will favor the northern Missouri Valley into Iowa. The warmth and dry conditions will bode favorable for New Year's activities though increased fire weather concerns will be the trade-off though winds appear marginal any particular day.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 515 PM CST Sun Dec 28 2025

Low stratus and light snow will continue to exit northern Nebraska this evening, with VFR expected for all terminals tonight into tomorrow.

Strong northwest winds persist through much of the night, gradually weakening after sunrise Tuesday. Northwest gusts of 35 to 45kts persist for all terminals tonight. Winds then become west-northwest tomorrow afternoon, at 10 to 15kts.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory until 8 AM CST /7 AM MST/ Monday for NEZ004>010-023>029-035>037-094.