831
FXUS63 KLBF 301116
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
616 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Near seasonal to slightly cooler than seasonal highs are
  expected the next few days, with overnight lows in the mid to
  upper 20s. Precipitation chances decrease after this morning
  as higher pressure builds into the region.

- Drier and warmer conditions return this weekend, with highs
  returning to the 70s

- Precipitation chances may return Tuesday into Wednesday, with
  southwest Nebraska favored for accumulations at this time.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 310 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

A cold front tracks south across the region overnight, bringing
slightly cooler temperatures in its wake. This is expected to drop
overnight lows into the upper 20s to mid 30s across the region, with
the warmer temperatures across southwest Nebraska, ahead of the
front. Latest guidance is slightly quicker with the movement of this
front, which is now expected to be south of the region around
sunrise. With the quicker movement of this front, expecting lower
chances of precipitation this morning into the early afternoon, with
the best chances being across far southwest Nebraska. Still, chance
of precipitation remain generally under 30 percent, with little to
no additional precipitation expected. Chances greatly diminish as
the front continues tracking south into Kansas in the afternoon, and
expecting no additional precipitation for Friday as well.

Behind the front, higher pressure begins to develop across the
northern Plains, which will largely dominate our weather pattern
over the next few days. Upper level ridging begins to develop to the
west, with a trough to the east, keeping western Nebraska in a
mostly northerly to northwesterly flow aloft the next few days. This
should all combine to keep temperatures near seasonal to slightly
cooler than seasonal for today and Friday. For reference, highs in
late April and early May across western Nebraska typically range
from around 66 to 67 degrees. At this time, expecting highs to reach
into the low to mid 60s today and tomorrow.

As for overnight lows, both tonight and Friday night appear very
similar. Very little cloud cover is expected both nights, with light
winds across the region. This will allow for strong radiational
cooling both nights, and expect that lows will drop into the mid to
upper 20s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 310 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

The area remains under the influence of upper ridging aloft as we
head into the weekend, with persistent warm advection boosting highs
back into the 70s. With minimum afternoon humidity then returning
into the teens to 20s this weekend as well, some increase in fire
concerns is possible. That said, this will hinge on how fuels react
to the recent cool, cloudy, and wetter conditions. A weak shortwave
will round the apex of the ridge through the northern Plains,
reaching northern Nebraska by Sunday afternoon. This will lead to an
associated weak surface low ejecting southeast out of southeastern
Wyoming across southern Nebraska. As a weak frontal boundary pushes
through the area Sunday afternoon into Sunday night, isolated
showers and thunderstorms will be possible. Instability looks very
meager (~100-250 J/kg), and strong to severe storms are not
anticipated at this time. Any precipitation looks to remain meager
as well, with NBM probabilities of >0.10" at 0.10" increase to as high as 40-50% through
Wednesday morning. With at least meager instability in place
across the area, some threat for thunderstorms looks to exist as
well. Any severe weather looks unlikely at this time, though
trends will continue to be monitored.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 615 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail through tomorrow morning
across western and north central Nebraska. Winds increase from
the northwest this afternoon, with gusts of 20 to 25kts
expected. Winds then become light and variable overnight.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Richie
LONG TERM...Brown
AVIATION...Brown

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion