textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry conditions will continue through tonight.

- A chance for scattered storms returns to northwest Nebraska late Tuesday afternoon and then dissipating Tuesday evening.

- A better chance for more organized storms Wednesday into Thursday. Drier and hotter weather is in store for next weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 1251 PM CDT Sun Jul 5 2026

A weak area of surface high pressure is located across the forecast area thins afternoon. This beneath upper-level ridging that has built northeastward from the southern Rockies. These features are aiding in subsidence across the region, and expecting a storm free late afternoon and night tonight. The weak surface high will shift east of the area tonight, with low-level flow becoming south-southeast on the backside of the high. The ridge remains in place Monday as a weak shortwave disturbance moves across the Dakotas on the northern periphery of the upper ridge. Ascent from this wave does clip northern Nebraska Monday afternoon into the evening. Appears that scattered late afternoon convection across the northern Panhandle could spread into northwest Nebraska Tuesday evening before dissipating. Overall shear is weak and not expecting any severe at this point, but some locally gusty winds will be possible through the early evening. Upper-ridge will flatten somewhat Tuesday as a bit sponger wave crosses the Northern and Central Plains. Shear increases some along with a moderately unstable atmosphere. A better chance of locally stronger storms, especially across northern Nebraska, will be possible Tuesday evening as convection organizes and moves eastward off the higher terrain to the west.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 1251 PM CDT Sun Jul 5 2026

West to northwest flow aloft will persist Wednesday through Friday. Another stronger disturbance crosses the area Thursday, with a decent chance for showers/storms. Ridging aloft then starts to build northward again Saturday with chances for rainfall decreasing. There continues to be a signal for conditions to become quite hot just beyond the forecast period. Ensemble members and operational runs of the various models are advertising a very strong upper ridge expanding across the Plains. This could bring some real heat to the region and will have to be monitored.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1244 PM CDT Sun Jul 5 2026

VFR conditions will continue through tonight and into Monday across all of western and north central Nebraska. Winds will become south at 10-20 kts during the day Monday. Otherwise due expected some low-level wind shear of about 30-35 kts from the south tonight.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.