textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Severe potential both tonight and the 4th of July remains possible. Not likely to be widespread but at scattered severe storms are expected.

- Drier weather is expected Sunday into the first of next week as a ridge of high pressure expands northward into the area.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 206 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

Several potential scenarios will be possible late this afternoon into this evening. Several boundaries have been left in the wake of last night's MCS. One analyzed across north central Nebraska, with another located across central into southwest Nebraska, and yet one more located across northwest Nebraska. Latest thinking is that storm initiation is close across northwest Nebraska along that mentioned boundary. Latest runs of the WoFS initiate convection between 3-4pm. CAPE/shear would support a possible supercell evolving out of this development. The last several runs of the HRRR then loosely organizes this activity as it moves into a better CAPE environment/theta-e advection across the Sandhills early this evening. Appears that strong potentially damaging winds will be the main concern, but a few instances of hail will be possible.

Late tonight, toward sunrise Saturday morning. A separate secondary are of convection should form within the left exit region of the upper jet. This should mostly be across northeast Colorado into northwest Kansas and far southwest Nebraska.

Saturday;s convective scenario will largely be dependent on how this afternoon and tonight evolves. At this time, appears that western Nebraska has the higher potential of seeing some stronger late afternoon and evening convection. Moist upslope flow and decent boundary layer recovery will occur across this area. Again, could see a few supercells evolve with a potential upscale damaging wind potential evolving into parts of southwest Nebraska into northwest Kansas during the evening.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 206 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

Upper-level ridging starts to expand northward Sunday into the first of next week. This will cause the upper flow to decrease considerably with overall shear diminishing. As the upper- levels warm the threat for convection will decrease, and any convection that does manage to develop would likely remain non- severe as overall shear decreases. Otherwise with the upper- level ridging building in temperatures will remain seasonably warm for this time of year, with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 654 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

VFR conditions will prevail across all of western and north central Nebraska. Widely scattered thunderstorms will be possible tonight through mid-morning Saturday. Localized gusty winds will be possible near any storm, otherwise winds will be light, generally 10 kts or less. Scattered late afternoon storms will again be possible Saturday afternoon, especially across western Nebraska.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.