026
FXUS63 KLBF 311722
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1122 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Light snow possible today through early evening, accumulations
  will remain light and under one inch

- Cold wind chills this morning across north central Nebraska, Cold
  Weather Advisory is in effect until 9am CST


- Temperatures warm up by early this week, temperatures reach
  the 60s Thursday

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Issued at 348 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

The main concern in the short term will be the chance
for light snowfall today and sub zero wind chills this morning. As
for the wind chills this morning, a Cold Weather Advisory remains in
effect through 9am CST this morning. Although brief, the combination
of strengthening winds this morning to around 5 to 10 mph with
below zero air temperatures will lead to wind chill values of
-20 or colder. There is a slight chance for light snow today,
however confidence is low in how widespread precipitation will
be. A front will move east and will be the focus for snowfall
development, however only weak forcing ahead of the front is
expected leading to some uncertainty with development of
snowfall. Any snow that does develop will remain light with
snowfall amounts less than 1 inch expected. Generally expect the
"higher" snowfall amounts (closest to 1") to be across north
central Nebraska, where temperatures will remain cooler, areas
across western Nebraska may warm above freezing quicker, where
precipitation type may transition to rain/sprinkles.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 348 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

An upper level ridge builds across the western CONUS and
will slowly move eastward through the week. Temperatures will begin
to warm into the 50s across western Nebraska and the Sandhills to
begin the week, with widespread 50s/60s by Thursday. Thursday has
the potential to be the warmest day of the week and EFI continues to
increase with confidence increasing in the potential of seeing some
extreme temperatures on Thursday, and will continue to monitor the
trend. Although temperatures are still forecast to be below record
temperatures at this time, around 5 to 10 degrees below records...if
forecast trends continue to come in warmer, the potential for
nearing record temperatures will increase. Along with the warmer
temperatures on Thursday, will also need to monitor the increase for
fire weather potential, winds will be breezy Thursday with sustained
winds around 15 to 20 mph and gust up to 30 mph, combined with dry
conditions could lead to elevated and potentially near-critical fire
weather concerns for Thursday afternoon.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1125 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

Snow will continue to move east out of the Sandhills and
through central and north central this afternoon, exiting the
area this evening. MVFR to briefly IFR visibilities is expected
as snow falls, along with MVFR CIGs. After snow has ended, VFR
is expected to prevail through tomorrow afternoon across all of
western and north central Nebraska. Northwesterly LLWS is also
expected to develop tonight for terminals along and east of HWY
83.

Winds remain gusty from the south-southwest this afternoon, with
gusts of 25 to 30kts expected. Winds then weaken this evening
and become northwest overnight, at 5 to 10kts.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Gomez
LONG TERM...Gomez
AVIATION...Brown

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion