032
FXUS63 KLBF 301729
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1129 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Potential for light snow Friday and Saturday

- Wind chills below zero tonight into Saturday morning

- Temperatures will begin to warm up Sunday through the week,
  with warmest temperatures on Thursday and Friday

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 301 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

The main concern in the short term will be the chance for light
snowfall today and wind chills tonight into early Saturday. A
front is currently stalled across the Sandhills but sfc high
pressure will move the front westward along with precipitation
chances through the day. Soundings are fairly moist above 850mb
but a little drier in the lowest levels, leading to some lower
confidence in how widespread precipitation chances will be as
the system moves westward. Models have also been inconsistent
with precipitation development later into the afternoon, thus
have kept PoP chances generally less than 30 percent. Snow is
expected to end by late afternoon/early evening with a lull in
precipitation until early Saturday morning.

As far as wind chills for tonight. Decided to hold off on issuing
any cold weather headlines for now. Although there will increasing
CAA Friday into Friday night, confidence is low in reaching
criteria. As right now only a few sites briefly hit 20 degrees below
zero, only for 1 or 2 hours. The coldest wind chills are expected in
the early morning hours, however a few factors may help keep wind
chills from dipping to the -20 threshold, as clouds will be moving
eastward through the overnight and if winds stay just a a couple mph
lighter, wind chills will stay warmer, thus given the uncertainty
and lower confidence and collaboration with neighboring offices,
will not be issuing cold weather headlines with this forecast
package.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 301 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

A system will move through Saturday morning bringing chances
for precipitation across western Nebraska in the morning, then
spreading eastward in the afternoon. At this time precipitation
type looks to stay mostly snow, with portions of western
Nebraska turning into rain as temperatures warm up in the
afternoon across the west. South to southwesterly winds will
moderate temperatures generally west of HWY 83, into the upper
30s to near 50 degrees. Areas east of HWY 83 will stay cooler
with highs only int the low to mid 30s. As far as snow
accumulations, snowfall amounts will remain light on Saturday
with only a half inch or less expected. An upper level ridge
begins to build in across the west and temperatures will warm
into the 40s to 50s Sunday through Tuesday. The ridge will move
eastward on Thursday and Friday with highs reaching the upper
50s to low 60s across western and southwest Nebraska.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1130 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Light snow will continue to end from northeast to southwest,
with VFR visibilities returning to all terminals by this
evening. Low stratus will also exit, with VFR CIGs returning
for all terminals as well.

VFR then prevails into tonight, before another round of light
snow and low stratus is expected into tomorrow afternoon.
Confidence in impacts at both KLBF and KVTN remains low for now,
though future MVFR mention may be needed.

Winds shift from northeast this afternoon to south tonight,
generally at 5 to 15kts. Winds then strengthen from the south
tomorrow afternoon, with gusts of 20 to 30kts expected.

&&

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

&&

$$

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

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion