textproduct: North Platte

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold air continues tonight into Monday morning. A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect.

- Some increase in fire weather concerns Monday.

- Warmer to the west and colder to the east will be the story for the week. A warm-up for all areas look likely for the coming weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 323 PM CST Sun Jan 25 2026

The cold weather will continue to be the main story tonight into Monday morning. Arctic high pressure is centered across western North Dakota this afternoon. It will quickly translate southward across South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas this evening and will be centered across western Oklahoma by Monday morning. As this occurs, the surface pressure gradient will begin to tighten across the area. Low-level westerly flow will increase overnight. Air temperatures will be very cold with lows of 5 to 12 below zero across the area. As the west winds increase some after midnight, wind chill readings will be very cold. All areas should see at least -20F, with portions of northwest Nebraska approaching -30F as winds will be the strongest across that area. Appears values as a whole will remain just below Extreme Cold Warning criteria, so will continue with the current Cold Weather Advisory headline.

As far as any light snow early this evening, little to no accumulation is expected. The weak area of mid-level FGEN rapidly fades with dry air aloft and clearing skies taking hold.

As the surface high shifts south into Texas on Monday, westerly downslope warming winds will increase. This will lead to a quick warm-up, with highs ranging from the mid 30s across portions of north central Nebraska to the lower 40s across western and far southwest Nebraska. Wind gusts around 30 mph are expected for areas west of Highway 83, with gusts of 25 mph or so east of Highway 83. It appears the lowest humidity will be across snow-free areas of the northern Sandhills and north central Nebraska. Although there isn't much snow across southwest Nebraska, there is a little. This should add just a bit of moisture to the boundary layer as it melts. So with full sunshine, and forecast humidity dropping to around 20% across northern parts of the area, some increase in fire weather concerns are expected. The limiting factor for higher concerns will be the only moderately warm temperatures. Monday night will bring a good humidity recovery, with much of the area seeing humidity values climbing above 90%.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 323 PM CST Sun Jan 25 2026

Northwest flow aloft looks to persist for much of the coming week. A warming trend is expected, especially across western Nebraska, where temperatures climb above the freezing mark each day. Wednesday will see highs well into the 40s and perhaps nearing 50 across southwest Nebraska. This could bring another elevated fire weather day. Farther to the east, a couple of weak surges of Canadian air will keep highs on the colder side. In fact, portions of north central Nebraska will struggle to reach the freezing mark though Friday. A frontal zone will develop between the colder air to the east and warmer air to the west. This could become a focus for some light precipitation Thursday into Thursday night. A fairly significant warm up then looks on tap for next weekend. Ridging across the Rockies will begin to move eastward. For now, already forecasting highs in the 50s across western Nebraska Saturday.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 522 PM CST Sun Jan 25 2026

There will be some scattered to broken mid level clouds over far southwestern Nebraska and over portions of north central Nebraska through mid to late evening. Ceilings in these two areas will range from 2500 to 5000 FT AGL. These areas of cloud cover are not expected to impact the KLBF and KVTN terminals this evening. Look for clearing skies overnight with a few high clouds around 25000 FT AGL expected late tonight into the day on Monday. Winds will become westerly Monday afternoon with some gusts approaching 25 KTS Monday afternoon at both terminals.

LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory from 9 PM CST /8 PM MST/ this evening to 9 AM CST /8 AM MST/ Monday for NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038- 056>059-069>071-094.