353
FXUS63 KLBF 250538
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1138 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Cold weather continues through Sunday night. A reinforcing batch
  of arctic air will likely lead to a cold weather advisory
  Sunday night.

- A dusting of light snow is expected across far western
  Nebraska Sunday. Better chances for light accumulation will be
  nearer the Front Range.

- Dry and warmer weather is expected for much of next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 342 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

The cold weather will continue to be the main story through Sunday
night and into Monday morning. A weak area of surface low pressure
develops and moves eastward tonight across southern South Dakota.
Light southwest flow at the surface will persist tonight south of
this low across much of western and north central Nebraska. As the
low moves into northeast Nebraska, then winds shift to the northwest
around sunrise across northern Nebraska and then spread southward
through the day Sunday. Weak low-level warm air advection should
help temperatures steady off near zero across the Sandhills tonight,
with areas around the Sandhills dipping to as low as 5 below zero.
Winds appear light enough that wind chill readings will largely stay
above Cold Air Advisory thresholds and not planning to issue one for
tonight. Will have to monitor in case temperatures end up colder,
but increasing clouds from the northwest after midnight, combined
with the weak WAA should be enough to keep the area advisory free
for tonight.

As the weak surface low tracks to the east tomorrow, surface high
pressure will build into the area through the day Sunday and into
Sunday night. The next batch of colder arctic air will filter south
into the area Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Although winds
will be in the process of decreasing Sunday night, air temperatures
will drop to between 5 and 10 below, so even the light winds will
likely cause wind chill values to drop into the 20 to 25 below
range. A Cold Weather Advisory will likely be needed for this.

As far as snow, expecting very little across our area. The higher
probabilities of seeing accumulation will be farther to the west
nearer the front range. An area of mid-level FGEN will become
established from northwest to southeast across western Nebraska
Sunday morning and linger through the afternoon hours. Despite high
snow to liquid ratios, there just doesn`t appear there will be much
more than a dusting. HREF probs don`t have much of anything for 1/2"
or greater and just a low probability of seeing a tenth of an
inch.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 342 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

Northwest flow aloft looks to persist for much of the coming
workweek. A warming trend is likely, especially across western
Nebraska. Here, expect temperatures to climb above the freezing
mark each day, with Wednesday seeing highs well into the 40s
and perhaps nearing 50. Farther to the east, a couple of weak
surges of Canadian air will keep highs on the colder side. It
appears that Monday will be the warmest day for eastern portions
of north central Nebraska, when highs in the mid 30s are
expected. Otherwise highs in that area will likely remain in the
upper 20s through the remainder of the workweek. Little if any
chance of precipitation within the dry, northwest flow aloft.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1128 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

Winds will switch to the northwest overnight around 5 kts. Winds
will increase Sunday morning with northwest to northerly winds
around 10 to 15 kts with gust up to 25 kts. Cigs will lower
Sunday as well with MVFR conditions possible Sunday afternoon.
VFR conditions will return by Sunday afternoon.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST /11 AM MST/ Sunday for
NEZ004-022-023-035>038-056>059-069>071.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Taylor
LONG TERM...Taylor
AVIATION...Gomez

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion