531
FXUS63 KLBF 190010
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
710 PM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Frost/freeze conditions likely across much of north central Nebraska
  Sunday morning as temperatures plummet into the mid 20s to
  low 30s.

- Dry conditions prevail tonight through the end of the week.

- Temperatures return to near normal through Friday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 339 PM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

The main weather concern in the short term will be the very cold
temperatures tonight and into Sunday morning. Low temperatures are
expected to fall into the mid 20s to low 30s area wide, locally into
the low 20s across the central Sandhills. The latest probability
guidance suggests temperatures could even fall a few more degrees
than what is currently in the forecast, although, confidence in how
widespread colder temperatures will be is not high. Therefore, went
with a similar forecast to what was inherited until observations
show a downward trend. Regardless, relatively calm east southeast
winds tonight combined with clear skies will allow for ample
radiational cooling dropping apparent temperature values into the
low to mid 20s for most locations and as low as the upper teens (16
to 19 degrees across the central Sandhills. A Freeze Warning remains
in effect for the entire north central Nebraska region (minus
Sheridan/Cherry counties where freeze conditions have already
occurred this Fall) until late Sunday morning when temperatures
rise quickly after sunrise.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 339 PM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

Strong upper level ridging across the western US will allow for
surface high pressure to build into the region on Sunday with dry
conditions lasting through next week. A developing low pressure
system and trough will barrel through Nebraska on Monday and while
no precipitation is expected, very strong winds will be associated
with this system. Current guidance suggests northwest gusts up to 45
mph could be possible in the afternoon, potentially up to 50 mph
across portions of the Sandhills and northern Nebraska. At this
time, no wind headlines have been issued, but will be monitoring
this over the next day or so.

Warm air advection returns on Sunday bringing 850 mb temperatures in
the 10 to 20 C range back into the region by Sunday afternoon.
Therefore highs return to the mid 60s to low 70s with lows in the
upper 30s to low 40s for much of next week. The exception will be on
Monday and Tuesday where temperatures return to below normal (normal
highs: mid 60s; normal lows: mid 30s) as the developing low across
the northern Plains ushers in a cooler airmass into the central and
western Plains. Highs only rise into the mid 50s to low 60s both
days before returning to near normal.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 647 PM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

VFR conditions will prevail across western and north central
Nebraska tonight and Saturday. Winds will become light tonight
and southwest at 10-20 kts Saturday.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Freeze Warning from 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/ this evening to 11 AM
CDT /10 AM MDT/ Sunday for NEZ006>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-
069>071.

&&

$$

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

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion