textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- High confidence in hot, above normal temperatures through Monday with highs and heat indicies across north central approaching or exceeding 100 degrees.

- Moderate to high confidence in return to cooler temperatures Tuesday through Friday

- Moderate confidence in near-daily thunderstorm potential Tuesday through Thursday.

- Low confidence in a return to hot temperatures next weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 249 PM CDT Sun Jul 19 2026

Little changes have been made to the going forecast for the short term. Extreme heat across the region will remain the main concern as upper level ridging and strong surface high pressure remains over the central US. Warm air advection is currently pushing warmer 850mb temperatures in the 30 to 35 C range into the region resulting in surface highs in the upper 90s to low 100s. These very warm temperatures will create heat indicies in the 100 to 105 range mid to late afternoon, especially on Monday where these 100 degree plus heat indicies become widespread throughout the region. Heat advisories remain in place across the region both today (across northern Nebraska) and Monday (the entire forecast area).

Regarding precipitation, it will be a mostly dry forecast through Monday night. Some isolated showers and thunderstorms are still expected late this afternoon and into early evening across portions of northwestern Nebraska. Confidence remains relatively low on development and locations of impact, however, enough of the CAMs suggest some isolated storms to warrant at least a mention of them in the forecast. Any storms tonight will be mainly confined to South Dakota and any development in northwest Nebraska should be relatively short lived with the severe threat low. There is also some low precip chances on Monday evening with a frontal passage. While there will be ample instability across the region Monday afternoon/evening, limited moisture will be present. Any thunderstorms that do develop will likely be confined to the higher terrain of the Panhandle and be fairly isolated in nature. Again, not expecting severe thunderstorms, but a few stronger storms could be possible on Monday especially west of Highway 61.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 249 PM CDT Sun Jul 19 2026

On Tuesday, the cold front passage will allow for some cooler air to begin to push into the region for the middle of the week lasting through the end of the week. Highs will range from the mid 80s across northern Nebraska to the low 90s south of I-80 on Tuesday. Temperatures continue to plummet through the week dropping into the low to mid 80s for most locations through Friday. A few isolated locations could even drop into the upper 70s across extreme north central Nebraska, or rise into the low 90s across southwest Nebraska. Heading into next weekend, another surge of warm air will push back into the region resulting in highs returning to the mid 90s to low 100s by next Saturday and Sunday. Will continue to monitor this trend over the next week as heat headlines may be necessary once again.

As the pattern begins to shift, there will also be a return to moisture and precipitation chances. With upper level ridging across the western US, a series of disturbances will pivot across the central Plains. This will bring near daily rain and thunderstorm chances to the region through Thursday evening. A brief break may be possible on Friday and into the weekend, but some models suggest at least some isolated activity through the weekend. While not anticipating widespread severe thunderstorms at this time, some stronger to briefly severe thunderstorms may be possible across the region. Will continue to monitor the severe potential over the next several days and make adjustments to the forecast as needed.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 632 PM CDT Sun Jul 19 2026

VFR conditions will persist through most of the forecast period. There are some isolated showers and thunderstorms that are moving across the northern Sandhills and could briefly impact KVTN terminal this evening, lowering visibility briefly with some moderate rainfall as the shower/thunderstorm passes. Shower and thunderstorm potential will diminish by late evening. Winds will remain breezy out of the south this evening into the overnight around 5 to 15 kts with gusts up to 22kts. Winds will then begin to switch to the northeast in the late morning and afternoon for areas of the central and northern Sandhills into north central Nebraska with a frontal passage. Where the front stalls tomorrow there will be the potential for some isolated thunderstorms, at this time have left the mention out of the KLBF taf as uncertainty remains on the placement of the front.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ Monday for NEZ004>010- 026>029-094. Heat Advisory from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ Monday for NEZ022>025-035>038-056>059-069>071.