textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Light snow possible today through early evening, accumulations will remain light and under one inch

- Cold wind chills this morning across north central Nebraska, Cold Weather Advisory is in effect until 9am CST

- Temperatures warm up by early this week, temperatures reach the 60s Thursday

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 348 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

The main concern in the short term will be the chance for light snowfall today and sub zero wind chills this morning. As for the wind chills this morning, a Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect through 9am CST this morning. Although brief, the combination of strengthening winds this morning to around 5 to 10 mph with below zero air temperatures will lead to wind chill values of -20 or colder. There is a slight chance for light snow today, however confidence is low in how widespread precipitation will be. A front will move east and will be the focus for snowfall development, however only weak forcing ahead of the front is expected leading to some uncertainty with development of snowfall. Any snow that does develop will remain light with snowfall amounts less than 1 inch expected. Generally expect the "higher" snowfall amounts (closest to 1") to be across north central Nebraska, where temperatures will remain cooler, areas across western Nebraska may warm above freezing quicker, where precipitation type may transition to rain/sprinkles.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 348 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

An upper level ridge builds across the western CONUS and will slowly move eastward through the week. Temperatures will begin to warm into the 50s across western Nebraska and the Sandhills to begin the week, with widespread 50s/60s by Thursday. Thursday has the potential to be the warmest day of the week and EFI continues to increase with confidence increasing in the potential of seeing some extreme temperatures on Thursday, and will continue to monitor the trend. Although temperatures are still forecast to be below record temperatures at this time, around 5 to 10 degrees below records...if forecast trends continue to come in warmer, the potential for nearing record temperatures will increase. Along with the warmer temperatures on Thursday, will also need to monitor the increase for fire weather potential, winds will be breezy Thursday with sustained winds around 15 to 20 mph and gust up to 30 mph, combined with dry conditions could lead to elevated and potentially near-critical fire weather concerns for Thursday afternoon.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 546 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

Light snow may be possible throughout the day, spreading from west to east. Snowfall is expected to remain light with little impacts to visibility, however lower cigs may be possible. Winds will increase this afternoon out of the south around 10 to 15 kts sustained with gust around 25 kts. Winds will decrease tonight and switch to the west overnight around 5 kts. There will also be LLWS across the northern Sandhills tonight with LLWS out of the northwest around 30 kts.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory until 9 AM CST this morning for NEZ005>010-026>029.