textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Above normal temperatures continue Monday and Tuesday with highs reaching the 50s and 60s

- A brief cool down on Wednesday, with highs mostly in the 40s, with even cooler temperatures possible Friday with highs in the 30s

- Elevated fire weather concerns Monday and Tuesday

- Breezy on Tuesday with wind gusts up to 45 mph and strong winds again on Friday approaching 50 mph

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 357 PM CST Sun Jan 11 2026

The main concern in the short term will be the temperatures. Did lower temperatures several degrees tonight as clear skies and light winds will lead to effective radiational cooling. For tomorrow the upper level ridge will continue to the west with northwest flow aloft and the above normal temperatures and dry conditions continue for Monday afternoon. Bumped highs across western and southwest Nebraska a few degrees warmer into the low 60s. There will also be some elevated fire weather concerns for western Nebraska where min RH will range from near 20 to 25 percent.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 357 PM CST Sun Jan 11 2026

Upper level ridge remains in place for Tuesday continuing the above normal temperatures in the 50s to low 60s. Winds will be breezier as the pressure gradients tightens and good mixing ahead of a back door cold front will lead to sustained winds around 15 to 30 mph with gust up to 45 mph. Temperatures will be cooler on Wednesday with the coolest temperatures across north central Nebraska with highs in the upper 30s to low 40s. For the western Sandhills and southwest Nebraska temperatures will still remain above normal with highs reaching the upper 40s to near 50 degrees. There will be some elevated fire weather concerns again for Tuesday, mainly across southwest Nebraska where above normal temperatures continue in combination with the strong winds and dry conditions.

The next system arrives on Thursday night into Friday and will need to monitor this system for strong winds and the potential for wind headlines. Colder temperatures are also expected with highs in the 30s and lows dropping into the teens. Could also see wind chill values dropping a few degrees below zero across the northern Sandhills. As for precipitation chances, any widespread precip is limited, with some precipitation chances on Friday morning across north central Nebraska.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1123 PM CST Sun Jan 11 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail across western and north central Nebraska throughout the effective TAF period. Winds remain light out of the west overnight, with winds increasing by late morning. Across western Nebraska and the Sandhills, gusts up to 20 knots are expected. Will be keeping an eye on the development of a low level jet late evening near the end of the TAF period, as this will likely introduce LLWS concerns near the end of this TAF period and beyond. Have omitted from TAFs for now, until confidence in timing and intensity increase.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.