048
FXUS63 KLBF 231943
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
243 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- After tonight`s rain chance, hot weather sets in again for the
  weekend. Sunday could be excessively hot.

- A bit cooler again next week with highs back into the 90s and
  an increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 212 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

ECMWF ENS PWATS remain impressive with around 1.6" area wide. This
is well above the the 90th %tile as sub-tropical moisture continues
to moving northward through the Rockies and then turning eastward
across the Plains on the northern side of the Southern Plains
centered upper-level high pressure. One more disturbance will
translate eastward this evening bringing another round of potential
precipitation to the area. However, precipitation looks to be more
scattered, and not expecting much coverage. The exception will be
across portions of north central Nebraska, generally east of Highway
183, where coverage could be a little greater. After tonight, the
center of the ridge begins to build back northward, essentially
putting and end to rain chances. This will allow temperatures to be
to warm again Friday, with highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 212 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

The upper level ridging continues to build northward from the
Southern Plains this weekend. This will bring a return to hot
temperatures. Sunday looks to have the potential to be exceptionally
hot. LREF/Ensemble mean high temperatures are well over 100
degrees and excessive heat headlines may be needed. Monday
continues to look hot, but by Tuesday through Thursday, the
ridge sinks back across the Southern Plains. This will allow for
a return of several disturbances rotating around the high.
Moisture content will remain high as sub-tropical moisture
continues rotate north and then eastward across the region. This
will likely lead to an increase in showers and thunderstorms.
With the increased cloud cover, slightly cooler temperatures
are expected with highs settling back into the lower to mid 90s.


&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1258 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

MVFR ceilings are lifting across the area and VFR should prevail
this afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected
again this evening. Otherwise MVFR and local IFR will develop
again tonight across central into southwest Nebraska.

&&

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

&&

$$

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

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion