723
FXUS63 KLBF 120527
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1227 AM CDT Sun Jul 12 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- High confidence in dry conditions through next week.

- High confidence in hot, above normal temperatures returning
  through Friday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 309 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

Upper level ridging will allow for surface high pressure to settle
over the central US through the weekend. With warm air advection
pushing a warmer airmass across the Rockies and into the western
Great Plains, temperatures will begin a gradual warming trend. With
850 mb temperatures in the 22 to 30 C range through Sunday, expect
highs to range from the low 90s across southwest and south central
Nebraska to the upper 90s north of US-20. These highs will be nearly
5 to 10 degrees above normal (normal in the low 90s). Overnight lows
will also begin to slowly rise, dropping into the low to mid 60s
tonight and mid to upper 60s on Sunday. Some stronger winds will
also be possible through the daytime with gusts up to 30 mph at
times. Otherwise, conditions will remain dry through Sunday night
with clear to mostly clear skies.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 309 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2026

Heading into next week, strong upper level ridging remains across
the region keeping surface high pressure over the central Plains.
Dry conditions are expected to persist through next week with a
return to much hotter temperatures. Expect highs to rise into the
low 90s to low 100s through at least Friday. However, latest
probabilities suggest these highs may still be a few degrees too
cold, especially on Thursday and Friday across northern Nebraska.
The probability of hitting 95 degrees over 50 percent for most
locations with up to a 75 percent (or higher) probability along and
north of US-20. Therefore, if trends continue to increase, I
wouldn`t be surprised to see highs a few more degrees warmer from
what is currently being forecasted. These forecasted highs could
result in heat indicies in the 100 to 105 degree range across
portions of north central Nebraska by late week. At this time, no
heat headlines have been issued, but if this warming trend is
persistent, they may be necessary.

In addition, there is a strong signal that there will be some strong
winds throughout the week. Gusts up to 30 to 40 mph could easily be
achieved, with potentially higher gusts especially across the
Sandhills. While not quite warning criteria, these stronger winds
will pose a threat to fire weather concerns, returning to near-
critical by mid to end of the week.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1227 AM CDT Sun Jul 12 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail across western and north
central Nebraska overnight and through the day. Overnight, mostly
southerly winds are expected, though stronger winds aloft do bring a
LLWS concern across the Panhandle and portions of north central
Nebraska, including the KVTN terminal. By the morning, as better
mixing develops across the region, expecting gusty wind conditions
to develop across the Panhandle and Sandhills, spreading east.
Southerly gusts up to 25 knots may be expected this afternoon, with
gusts subsiding after sunset.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Kulik
LONG TERM...Kulik
AVIATION...Richie

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion