544
FXUS63 KLBF 071847
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
147 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Well above average temperatures in the upper 70s to mid 80s
  Thursday.

- Dry conditions remain likely through Sunday.

- Unseasonably warm temperatures Friday and Saturday from 85 to
  around 90 across the forecast area. Elevated fire weather
  conditions Friday and near critical Saturday across the
  western Sandhills.

- A cold front will bring cooler temperatures to the area
  Sunday, with even cooler temperatures Monday and Tuesday.

- The threat for precipitation will increase beginning Sunday
  night over northwestern Nebraska, with the threat for
  precipitation spreading into the remainder of western and
  north central Nebraska Monday night through Wednesday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 147 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026

Tonight...surface high pressure will remain from eastern ND into the
middle Mississippi Valley. Will see an increase in mid and high
cloudiness across north central Nebraska tonight. Lows tonight
a few degrees warmer than the previous forecast, now from 48 to
55 degrees.

Thursday...surface low pressure will deepen across western Nebraska
through the day, with southerly winds increasing to 10 to 15 mph.
this will bring an increase in surface dewpoints to the low to
mid 50s with afternoon humidity higher in the 30-50% range. The
warmest H85 temperatures will be across southwest NE, where
highs reach the low to mid 80s, with upper 70s across much of
north central into central NE. These highs will range from 10 to
around 15 degrees above average.

Thursday night...the upper flow will become zonal as an upper trough
moves from British Columbia into the Pacific Northwest. A strong
thermal ridge will reside over the Central Plains. Surface winds
become light and variable, though overnight lows remain mild from 50
to 55. These lows are well above normal from 15 to near 20 degrees
above normal.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 147 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026

Friday into Saturday, the upper flow will become southwesterly as an
upper trough and closed low across the Pacific Northwest deepens
into the Western U.S. Surface low pressure will persist across the
Northern and Central High Plains, bringing a breezy southerly winds
15 to 25 mph by Friday afternoon, and highs 85 to near 90. Some
guidance supports highs could reach the lower 90s across much
of the west. The record high for North Platte is 95 degrees.
Records for Imperial, Broken Bow and Valentine are 91 degrees
Friday. Based on current forecast trends, Imperial and Broken
Bow have the best chances of hitting a record high on
Friday. Southerly winds will increase to 15 to 25 mph Friday
afternoon across the central and east. Elevated fire weather
conditions west of Valentine through Imperial, where afternoon
humidity could reach the upper teens and winds gust up to 20
mph. Southerly winds will be even stronger from 15 to 35 mph
Friday night. This mixing will also keep low very mild from the
upper 50s to mid 60s, which will be around 25 degrees above
normal. On Saturday, ridging aloft will break down. With the
ridge breakdown and a cold front dropping through the Black
Hills Saturday afternoon, very warm air will reside across
western and north central Nebraska. Another very warm day is
expected across the forecast area. Southwesterly winds will be
strong at 20 to 35 mph across the east, and 15 to 25 mph across
the west. Near critical fire weather conditions are possible
Valentine through Imperial and areas to the west as afternoon
humidity as low as 15 to 20 percent combines with wind gust to
25 mph. NBM forecast highs mainly 85 to 90. Highs could be a few
degrees warmer than this, supported by the latest MEX and ECX
MOS guidance. As for records Saturday, they are 88, 93, 94 and
95 degrees for Broken Bow, North Platte, Imperial and Valentine
respectively.

The cold front should progress through much of the area Saturday
night, with highs Sunday noticeably cooler with readings in the
lower 60s in the Pine Ridge, to the upper 70s in far SW
Nebraska. Sunday night into Monday, the threat for light
precipitation will increase over northwestern Nebraska as mid
level forcing tracks from Wyoming into the Dakotas. Monday and
Tuesday, highs have trended cooler from the mid to upper 50s
north central to upper 60s far southwest Monday, and mainly the
upper 50s Tuesday. Increasing chances for showers Monday night
through Wednesday. Flow aloft will transition to southwesterly
as a broad trough of low pressure deepens across the western
U.S. This is expected to bring a slight warmup to the low to mid
60s Wednesday, although confidence in the evolution of the
upper trough remains low. Subtropical moisture is favored to be
drawn northward from east of the four corners into the Central
Plains, when the best chances for showers arrive.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1201 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026

VFR conditions and light winds the next 24 hours at the KLBF and
KVTN terminals. Expect skies to range from FEW-SCT250.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Roberg
LONG TERM...Roberg
AVIATION...Roberg

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion