textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Moderate to high confidence in continued light showers through this evening with patchy fog early Sunday morning.

- Moderate to high confidence in increasing precipitation potential by the end of the weekend and into the beginning of next week.

- Moderate confidence in cooler and dry conditions by mid-week lasting through the end of the week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 257 PM CDT Sat Oct 31 2026

Isolated to scattered showers will continue through the evening hours. Any additional rainfall amounts will only total a couple hundredths, so significant rainfall is not anticipated with this system. As rain tapers off by late evening, ample moisture across the region will promote an increase in fog development heading into the wee hours of Sunday morning. Not anticipating dense fog, but some patchy fog primarily along and south of Highway 2 could limit visibilities down to 2 miles at times. Still, those traveling early Sunday morning should allow for extra time and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. Patchy fog will continue through the morning hours, giving way to low stratus by early afternoon lasting through late afternoon. While no precipitation is expected during the day on Sunday, cloudy and dreary conditions will be likely and with some low clouds hanging around much of the day, would not be surprised to see some light drizzle as well. Confidence is too low to put into the forecast at this time, but worth a mention here for those hoping for a completely dry forecast by the afternoon. Irrespective of the cloudy conditions, temperatures are anticipated to warm adequately into the low to mid 60s for most locations. Some areas across the eastern Panhandle will only rise into the upper 50s.

LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 257 PM CDT Sat Oct 31 2026

A better potential for significant rainfall arrives Sunday night lasting into Tuesday. A developing low pressure system off the Rockies will push eastward into Nebraska and South Dakota bringing widespread rain showers and even some isolated thunderstorms to the region. While QPF amounts are still a little uncertain, confidence is high that most locations, especially north of Highway 2, will see at least a half inch of rainfall. Currently, the best instability will remain off to the east and south keeping the severe risk low, however, QPF could exceed over an inch under some of the heavier showers or thunderstorms. While these rainfall totals are significant, the longer duration of this system should keep any flooding concerns at bay. Still, will be monitoring the rainfall totals and flooding potential closely as the event unfolds. Will also need to monitor the precipitation type as the system begins to push out Monday night and Tuesday morning. Colder air filtering in behind the departing low may result in a brief change over to snow across the higher elevations of the Pine Ridge. At this time, confidence remains too low to put in the forecast, but if the colder air can push in quickly, it will be possible to see a few wet snowflakes early Tuesday morning. Regardless if this happens, not expecting any accumulations.

Drier weather returns for mid-week through the end of the week as upper level ridging builds back over the Great Plains. Despite the quieter conditions, temperatures will remain slightly below normals Wednesday through Friday. Highs will remain in the low to mid 50s across the area (normals in the upper 50s to low 60s). Lows will drop into the low to mid 30s, which coincidentally is a few degrees above normals in the upper 20s.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1236 AM CDT Sun Nov 1 2026

Stratus and patchy drizzle are observed across western and north central Nebraska tonight, bringing widespread MVFR to IFR conditions. Through the night, these conditions will mostly prevail, with potential for some patchy fog development across southwest Nebraska in the predawn hours. However, southerly winds are expected to increase by mid morning, with gusty conditions across most of the region by late morning, which should end the concern for fog. Southerly gusts are expected to reach peaks around 25 to 30 knots throughout the afternoon. The stratus is also expected to remain, keeping widespread MVFR to IFR conditions through the afternoon. Rain chances increase by the evening, with rain expected to persist through Tuesday. As rain increases, expect IFR to LIFR conditions.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.