443
FXUS63 KLBF 302335
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
535 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A combination of temperatures below zero and a south breeze
  will lead to dangerously cold wind chills across portions of
  north central Nebraska Saturday morning.

- Light snow is possible across much of the Sandhills and north
  central Nebraska Saturday. Accumulations are expected to
  remain under 1".

- A return of above average high temperatures and drier
  conditions are expected by late weekend and into next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 321 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Currently, light snow is quickly ending across portions of southwest
Nebraska, with dry conditions elsewhere. This is in response to
surface high pressure moving into portions of eastern Nebraska,
ushering in a much drier airmass.

This surface high will dominate the area into tonight, with winds
weakening and dry conditions returning for all. The proximity of the
surface high will also lead to efficient radiational cooling across
much of central and north central Nebraska, with lows falling below
zero for areas east of HWY 83. As the surface high begins to exit
off to the southeast tonight, increasing southerly winds will
overspread the area in response. Though this brings increasing warm
advection, it appears there will be a period of overlap in the
increasing winds and sub-zero temperatures. This leads to wind
chills falling to near and slightly below -20F across portions of
north central Nebraska into Saturday morning. With this in mind,
have opted to issue a Cold Weather Advisory for areas along and east
of HWY 83 and north of HWY 2. This is where the overlap of the
coldest temperatures and increasing south winds will be maximized.
Elsewhere, wind chills range from around zero west of HWY 61 to -5
to -15F to the east.

This lifting warm front will also bring a threat for precipitation
across the area, as broad isentropic ascent begins to strengthen
through the morning hours tomorrow. This points to another round of
light snow, as the warm front translates across the area from west
to east into tomorrow afternoon. Rates look meager at best
(~0.1"/hr) , due to the lack of deeper forcing for ascent. In all,
another dusting to as much as a half inch is expected, generally
along and east of HWY 83. There appears to be a very brief window
where a more liquid p-type would be possible across north central
Nebraska tomorrow, as cloud ice is lost aloft. This points towards
drizzle or freezing drizzle, dependent on surface temperatures. That
said, forcing quickly diminishes as cloud ice is lost aloft, and
precludes any inclusion of freezing drizzle for now. Trends will
continue to be monitored with respect to this.&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 321 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

As we head into late weekend, upper ridging continues to amplify
across the western CONUS. This brings a return of much drier
northwest flow aloft, and these dry conditions persist into early
next week. As the upper ridge begins to translate east into the
Plains, temperatures quickly moderate back to above average across
the area. This points towards daily highs in the 50s and even 60s
across the area. Fire concerns will need to be monitored carefully
as we head into next week, with a combination of mild temperatures,
dry conditions, and breezy winds. &&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1130 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Light snow will continue to end from northeast to southwest,
with VFR visibilities returning to all terminals by this
evening. Low stratus will also exit, with VFR CIGs returning
for all terminals as well.

VFR then prevails into tonight, before another round of light
snow and low stratus is expected into tomorrow afternoon.
Confidence in impacts at both KLBF and KVTN remains low for now,
though future MVFR mention may be needed.

Winds shift from northeast this afternoon to south tonight,
generally at 5 to 15kts. Winds then strengthen from the south
tomorrow afternoon, with gusts of 20 to 30kts expected.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 535 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

VFR conditions tonight, before another round of light snow
begins by 15Z across the west and moves east into the afternoon.
Stratus with MVFR ceilings are expected near and east of the
KVTN terminal after 18Z. With -SN possible at KVTN, visibilities
may fall to 5SM 18Z-21Z.

Winds shift from easterly this evening to southerly overnight,
generally at 5 to 15kts. Winds then strengthen from the
southwest late morning through the afternoon Saturday, with
gusts to around 25kts expected.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST
Saturday for NEZ005>010-026>029.

&&

$$

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

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion