textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Areas of fog are possible tonight into Friday morning, with dense fog possible in spots especially from Highway 61 eastward through Highway 183. Additional fog development is possible Friday night into Saturday morning.

- A warming trend begins Friday and continues through the weekend, with highs reaching the 60s Saturday and middle to upper 60s Sunday and Monday.

- Mainly dry conditions and above-normal temperatures are expected through much of next week. A weak cold front may bring slightly cooler temperatures Tuesday, though highs should remain above normal.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 121 PM CST Thu Nov 5 2026

Currently, a weak southern-stream disturbance is located south of the region, with precipitation ongoing across Kansas and Oklahoma where the strongest forcing for ascent resides. Meanwhile, the upper- level low across the Great Lakes continues to weaken, with northerly flow persisting across northeastern portions of the forecast area. Some mid-level warm air advection (WAA) remains across portions of the region, supporting lingering mid-level cloud cover. However, increasing cold air advection (CAA) in the lower to middle levels should help reduce cloud cover through the afternoon and evening, particularly across western and central Nebraska. With increasing sunshine and 850-mb temperatures in the 7 to 10C range, highs should reach the lower to middle 50s across western and central portions of the area, with upper 50s possible across southwestern Nebraska. Farther northeast, persistent cloud cover should limit daytime warming, with highs generally in the upper 40s. Tonight into Friday morning, confidence is increasing in the potential for fog development, particularly across portions of the area between Highway 61 and Highway 183. Latest CAM model guidance, along with BUFKIT forecast soundings, indicates increasing low-level moisture beneath a developing inversion, with light winds and continued moisture advection supporting favorable conditions for fog development. With increasing signals for areas of fog, potentially becoming dense in some locations. The extent and duration of fog development remain somewhat uncertain, particularly along the western edge of the deeper low-level moisture. Overnight lows should generally remain near or slightly above freezing across much of the area, though temperatures will be dependent on the extent of fog and low-level cloud cover.

Friday, any lingering fog should gradually dissipate by mid morning as daytime heating and increasing boundary-layer mixing help erode the low-level inversion. However, areas where low-level moisture remains trapped beneath the inversion may experience a slower improvement in visibility and a delayed breakup of low cloud cover. Meanwhile, another weak southern-stream trough will move into the Four Corners region through the day, promoting generally westerly flow aloft across the forecast area. Increasing west to southwest flow at 850 mb will support warm air advection, with temperatures at this level increasing into the 9 to 12C range. With sufficient daytime mixing, highs should reach the middle to upper 50s across central and western Nebraska, with lower 60s possible across southwestern portions of the area. Farther northeast, lingering cloud cover should limit warming, with highs generally remaining in the upper 40s. Friday night into Saturday morning, fog development may occur once again as light winds and continued low-level moisture support favorable conditions for fog. However, confidence remains lower regarding the coverage and location of the fog development.

Saturday, upper-level flow will become more northwesterly as ridging continues to build across the northern Plains, while lower-level winds become more westerly. This will favor downslope warming and drying, particularly across central and western Nebraska. Continued warm air advection in the lower to middle levels should support 850- mb temperatures increasing into the 10 to 13C range across much of the region. With clearing skies, drier air, and more efficient boundary-layer mixing, highs should reach the lower to middle 60s across much of the area, with upper 60s possible across southwestern Nebraska. These temperatures would be around 10 to 15 degrees above normal for early November. Overnight lows Saturday night should generally remain in the middle to upper 30s.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 121 PM CST Thu Nov 5 2026

Late this weekend into early next week, split upper-level flow will continue across North America as an amplified ridge remains established across the northern Plains. This pattern will favor the polar jet stream remaining displaced north of the forecast area, while the southern-stream jet remains farther south across the southern CONUS. With the strongest forcing for ascent remaining displaced north and south of the region, generally dry conditions are expected across western and north-central Nebraska. A shortwave trough may track southeastward across the northern Plains along the northern periphery of the ridge, though current guidance suggests limited impacts across the forecast area. Persistent ridging, along with anomalously warm temperatures in the lower to middle levels, will support well above-normal temperatures through the early portion of next week. Highs Sunday and Monday should reach the middle to upper 60s across much of the area, with overnight lows generally in the middle to upper 30s.

Tuesday into the middle of next week, another shortwave trough is expected to track southeastward across the northern Plains, resulting in a transition toward more northwesterly flow aloft across the region. An associated cold front may move through the forecast area, bringing a modest decrease in temperatures. However, with the deeper reservoir of cold air remaining displaced well north of the region, significant cooling is not anticipated. Highs should generally remain in the upper 50s to lower 60s, which would still be above normal for early November. Beyond Tuesday, upper-level ridging is expected to remain persistent across the central United States through the end of the forecast period. The broader upper-level pattern may take on characteristics of an omega block, with troughing across the eastern Pacific and northeastern United States surrounding a ridge across the central CONUS. This pattern would favor continued subsidence and limited precipitation chances across western and north-central Nebraska, while maintaining above-normal temperatures. Highs should generally remain in the lower 60s through the latter portion of next week. Additionally, persistent troughing near the Aleutians and Gulf of Alaska may continue to favor the transport of relatively mild Pacific air into portions of the CONUS. With the primary reservoir of Arctic air remaining displaced northward into Canada and no strong signal for a significant southward intrusion of colder air, temperatures are expected to remain above normal through the end of the period. While some fluctuations in temperatures are possible with passing shortwaves and associated frontal boundaries, the overall pattern continues to favor warmer and drier conditions across the Central Plains.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1134 AM CST Thu Nov 5 2026

VFR conditions are expected across western and north-central Nebraska through this afternoon and evening. Light northerly winds of 5 to 10 knots will continue through the evening before becoming light and variable overnight. Increasing low-level moisture advection, combined with light winds and a developing nocturnal inversion, will support fog development overnight into Friday morning. The greatest potential for fog development currently favors areas between Highway 61 and Highway 183, including both KLBF and KVTN. While uncertainty remains regarding the exact coverage and intensity of the fog, confidence is increasing in the potential for IFR to LIFR conditions at both terminals, particularly during the early morning hours Friday. Forecast confidence in the timing and extent of visibility restrictions remains somewhat limited, and refinements will likely be needed in subsequent TAF issuances.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.