textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Well above normal temperatures and gusty west winds will lead to critical fire weather conditions, with a Red Flag Warning in effect until 8 PM CDT.

- Light rain will transition to light snow Tuesday night across north central Nebraska. At this time, accumulations are expected to remain light.

- Critical fire weather conditions are increasingly likely on Thursday due to a combination of much able normal temperatures, strong west winds and very low relative humidity.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 157 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Rest of this afternoon, A weak cold front moves into north central Nebraska and has stall out. This will keep winds light and variable for areas east of Cody through Broken Bow through the afternoon. Across the western Sandhills, westerly winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts from 30 to 40 mph are expected. The Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8 pm CDT across much of western Nebraska

A cold front is forecast to move into the northwest Sandhills this evening and through the remainder of the area overnight. Northerly winds behind the front will gust to 20-25 mph for a few hours. Lows tonight from the low 30s far southeast, to low to mid 20s northwest Sandhills.

Highs Tuesday will be cooler from the upper 40s to low 50s north, to the mid 50 to low 60s south. A northeast wind 10 to 20 mph will become east to northeast 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon. An upper trough will move into eastern MT and eastern WY during the afternoon. This will bring low chances for rain showers to the northwest Sandhills late afternoon.

Tuesday night, a reinforcing cold front will drop quickly south. Mid level frontogenesis in the H7-H5 layer will drop southeast, an provide a period of lift for 3-5 hours. Soundings indicate once the low levels saturate sufficiently, any light rain initially will quickly transition to light snow. The latest forecast has increased POPs to 60-80 percent, and a slight increase in QPFS as the HREF members are included. Snowfall amounts to a half inch are possible near and north of Highway 20. Impacts at this time appear low.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 157 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Cooler Wednesday from the upper 40s to lower 50s, on the backside of the upper trough with strong surface high pressure building in. A northwest wind 15 to 30 mph. A very dry airmass with dewpoints falling to around 10 above in the afternoon. Despite the cooler temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds will bring elevated to near critical fire weather conditions.

Thursday, a brief, strong warmup into the 70s. A clipper system crossing North Dakota will push a cold front south through much of South Dakota. To the south, across western and north central Nebraska, strong westerly winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph are possible across the western Sandhills. Windy with gusts 30 to 40 mph possible further east across the remainder of the area. Another day of much above normal highs in the upper 60 to mid 70s. In fact, highs could be even warmer, as the NBM 50th percentile has highs about 5 degrees warmer from the low 70s to upper 70s. At this time, critical fire conditions appear likely, with SPC Fire Weather Outlook forecasting a 70 percent or greater probability of critical fire weather occurring. Further details can be found in the Fire Weather Section below.

A cold front will push through Thursday night, with highs Friday expected to contrast from the low 50s far northeast to upper 70s far southwest. Another warmup Saturday ahead of another cold front, with highs from the mid 60s to upper 70s. Confidence in highs Friday and Saturday is below normal.

Sunday will be colder in the mid 30s to upper 40s, as the upper trough amplifies across the Great Lakes and Midwest. Highs warm to the low 40s to mid 50s Monday.

Precipitation chances mainly centered on Saturday through Sunday, mainly from light snow. The latest models do not suggest any significant systems, so much of the area can expect little if any measurable amount of snowfall.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 645 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

VFR conditions are largely expected for much of the forecast period.

A frontal boundary will arrive into the area later tonight and bring strong northerly winds for a few hours following passage. Increasing cold air and should promote low stratus across portions of south central Nebraska to include the LBF terminal. Have introduced a brief period of MVFR conditions though some guidance hints at greater impacts so will monitor trends and adjust as necessary with later forecasts. Expect a return of VFR conditions for the afternoon on Tuesday before low ceilings and precipitation works in across the area just beyond the end of the current period.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 157 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Critical fire weather conditions continue this afternoon and early evening across western Nebraska, with critical fire conditions possible Wednesday, and especially Thursday...

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for western Nebraska (Zones 204, 206, and 210). Westerly winds will remain gusty across the western Sandhills, especially near and west of Highway 61. Combined with low humidity and warm temperatures in the low to mid 70s, critical fire weather conditions will continue.

Critical fire weather conditions possible Wednesday as gusty northwest winds from 15 to 30 mph combine with low dewpoints near 10 above. Despite cooler highs from upper 40s to lower 50s, afternoon humidity could reach 15 to 20 percent across all fire districts.

Near record temperatures quickly return to the area by Thursday, with increasing concerns for critical fire weather conditions. These temperatures in the 70s to low 80s will combine with dry air to push relative humidity values into the teens Thursday afternoon. Most concerning, strong west winds look to develop across western Nebraska into the Sandhills as well, with gusts as high as 45 to 55 miles per hour possible, and gust from 30 to 40 mph further east. This points towards a very concerning setup for large and rapid fire spread. At this time, critical fire conditions appear likely, with SPC Fire Weather Outlook forecasting a 70 percent or greater probability of critical fire weather occurring. Trends will need to be monitored very closely and future fire weather headlines may be needed across much of western and north central Nebraska on Thursday.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ this evening for NEZ204-206-210.