971
FXUS63 KLBF 041143
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
643 AM CDT Sun Oct 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Moderate confidence in stronger wind gusts up to 40 mph
  Monday.

- Dry conditions remain likely Monday night through Saturday across
  all of western and north central Nebraska.

- Temperatures Tuesday through Saturday will be above normal
  with daily highs mainly in the 70s. Some readings in the lower
  80s are possible in SW and western Nebraska Tuesday and
  Saturday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 358 AM CDT Sun Oct 4 2026

Strong high pressure will continue to build into the region through
today keeping conditions dry. As high pressure starts to slide off
to the east tonight and into Monday, surface low pressure will allow
to build across Montana and the northern Rockies. This will cause a
tightening of the pressure gradient across central Nebraska
resulting in some stronger wind gusts during the day on Monday.
Southerly to southwesterly winds will increase into the 35 to 40 mph
gust range by late Monday morning lasting through the afternoon
hours before beginning to diminish Monday evening. Otherwise, dry
and quiet conditions will persist through Monday.

For temperatures, cooler air will push in tonight behind a departing
trough. This will result in some more seasonable temperatures today.
As high pressure settles into the region temperatures will begin to
moderate. Lows tonight will return to the low to mid 50s, with highs
on Monday ranging from the mid 70s in central Nebraska to the mid
80s across the Panhandle and northwest Nebraska.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 358 AM CDT Sun Oct 4 2026

Ridging will persist through Thursday across the Intermountain
West. This will place the central plains in west northwesterly
flow aloft, leading to mild and dry conditions across the area.
Ridging will begin to transition east Friday into Saturday as a
broad trough of low pressure deepens over the Pacific Northwest.
Daily high temperatures will generally be in the 70s with lower
80s possible over southwestern Nebraska Tuesday and Saturday.
Precipitation chances will be almost zero in the long term
periods. The latest NBM ensemble forecast has a near zero chance
of measurable precipitation from Monday night through Saturday.
Looking beyond Saturday, there are hints at a pattern shift
late Sunday into Monday the following week. A broad trough of
low pressure over the Pacific Northwest, will transition east
across southern Canada and the northern tier of states. The
latest EC and GFS forces a strong cold front through the area
either Sunday or Sunday night based on model choice. High
temperatures for Sunday and beyond, as depicted in the NBM
ensemble, have a high spread. On Monday (October 12), the 25th
to 75th %ile spread in highs for North Platte ranges from 51 to
73 degrees. Additionally, the deterministic GFS and EC solns
tonight develop some light precipitation across northern
Nebraska late Sunday into Monday.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 643 AM CDT Sun Oct 4 2026

Skies will be mostly clear over the next 24 hours with a few
high clouds around 25000 FT AGL possible through this afternoon.
Winds will become southerly this afternoon at around 10 KTS,
diminishing to under 10 KTS shortly after sunset this evening.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Kulik
LONG TERM...Buttler
AVIATION...Buttler

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion