textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- High confidence in showers coming to an end this morning with flooding concerns limited.

- Moderate confidence in colder temperatures on Thursday night, but frost potential remains low.

- Dry weather is expected Saturday through the middle of next week.

- A warm up is expected Saturday with highs into the 70s. A cold front will bring a cool down to the 60s Sunday. A warming trend is then expected Monday through Wednesday.

- Strong, gusty south winds are expected Monday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 224 AM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

Overall, the heaviest rainfall has come to an end across north central Nebraska. However, some isolated to scattered showers may continue through Thursday morning especially across areas south of I- 80. Little additional rainfall will fall out of these showers with QPF values generally under a tenth (0.1) of an inch expected. Therefore, with little precipitation expected and the threat of flooding coming to an end, have gone ahead and ended what remained of the flood watch. As strong high pressure builds south back into the area, any lingering rain showers will come to an end by early afternoon with quieter conditions continuing through Friday night. High pressure building south will also bring some cooler temperatures to the region. This will result in highs in the low to mid 60s today. Lows tonight will be significantly colder as well with most locations seeing overnight temperatures dropping into the low to mid 40s. At this time not expecting any frost potential, as this is likely the coolest air over the next week, those with sensitive plants or outside concerns may want to take some precautions. Temperatures may moderate a little across northwest Nebraska on Friday as some warmer air off the Front Ranges tries to push into the Panhandle. Still expect highs on Friday to range from the low 70s across the Pine Ridge to the low 60s in central Nebraska. Friday night lows will also rise a few degrees from Thursday night into the mid 40s to low 50s as the warmer air nudges into the region.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 224 AM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

Upper-level ridging will build across the desert southwest through the upcoming weekend and into the middle of next week. A dry northwest flow aloft will become established across our area on the northeast periphery of the high.

Canadian surface high pressure shifts east of the area Saturday, with gusty south winds developing ahead of a weak approaching shortwave and associated cold front. Appears the cold front will enter northwest Nebraska mid-morning Saturday, and then track southward through all of the area by early Saturday evening. Temperatures have trended up Saturday as deep mixing brings warmer air aloft to the surface. Highs in the mid to upper 70s are now expected across a large part of the area. Weak cold air advection, and another high pressure center from Canada, will slide southeastward behind the front Saturday night. This will cool highs back into the mid and upper 60s Sunday.

The surface high slides east of the region Monday. The surface pressure gradient will tighten between the high to the east and a deepening leeward trough to the west. This will result in gusty south through the day Monday. Gusts in excess of 40 mph look likely across the Sandhills and portions of north central Nebraska. Winds decrease for Tuesday as the leeward trough shifts eastward across the area. A warm up is slated for next week, with highs Monday in the mid 60s to mid 70s, mid 70s to near 80 Tuesday and 70s for Wednesday.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 639 AM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail across all of western and north central Nebraska through the day today and into tonight. Mid and high level cloudiness will gradually diminish through the day. Surface winds will increase from the northeast at 13-23 kts by this afternoon. Winds quickly decrease this evening to less than 10 kts.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.