003
FXUS63 KLBF 261142
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
542 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Elevated fire weather concerns today across the central and
  northern Sandhills and northwest Nebraska.

- A cold front brings much colder weather to the area Saturday
  night through Monday.

- Some light snow is possible Saturday night into Sunday. Little
  accumulation is expected.

- A return to above normal temperatures is expected next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 250 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

Another very mild day is expected this day after Christmas...as
upper level ridging continues to dominate the weather pattern across
the central U.S. between troughing on both coasts. A nearly
stationary front is located across eastern Nebraska into central
South Dakota and western North Dakota. This front separates cooler
air originating from Canada to it`s east and very mild Pacific air
to it`s west. Models are struggling with how far east this front may
wobble today. If it remains in place, then eastern areas (Holt, Boyd
& Wheeler counties) could stay colder than forecast. The trend has
been for the front to move little today, and have trended highs down
several degrees in the above mentioned areas. Could still not be
cold enough, especially across Boyd and far eastern Holt counties.
The latest 06Z NAM does try and push the front a little farther to
the east, allowing forecast highs in the mid to upper 50s to be
reached. Meanwhile, to the west of the front, west to southwest
winds will bring very mild downslope conditions. Many areas will be
nearing record highs once again. North Platte`s record for instance
is 66 degrees set in 2005. Forecasting a high of 69 degrees...so
records are in jeopardy. The other concern will be elevated fire
weather conditions. As highs climb into the mid and upper 60s,
humidity will fall to around 25%. Winds will be stronger the farther
north you go, with gusts nearing 25 mph across portions of the
central and northern Sandhills and across northwest Nebraska.

Similar conditions are expected Saturday. The front remains nearly
stationary, with much of our area again seeing very mild highs in
the mid 50s to mid 60s. Again, somewhat elevated fire weather
concern develop across the central and northern Sandhills and
northwest Nebraska.

Conditions change quickly Saturday night into Sunday. A potent
Alberta Clipper will dive southeast across the northern plains. This
will drive a strong cold front southward though the area Saturday
night. Strong low-level cold air advection will bring much colder
temperatures, with highs Sunday only in the 20s. While not uncommon
for this time of year, it will be quite noticeable, especially since
the weather has been so mild the last couple of weeks. Some light
snow could develop during the day Sunday within a zone of mid-level
FGEN oriented across the area. As of now, only a light dusting is
expected. The other story will be the gusty northwest winds. Area
profile soundings support northwest gusts around 45 mph or so,
decreasing some Sunday night. Winds chills both Sunday morning and
again Sunday night will be in the 0 to 10 below range, coldest
across northern Nebraska.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 250 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

Breezy northwest winds will continue Monday...as Canadian high
pressure builds southward into the region. Temperatures will modify
across western Nebraska Monday (into the upper 30s) but only mid 20s
are expected farther to the east across portions of north central
into eastern Nebraska.

Northwest flow aloft develops Monday and continues through Thursday.
Ridging aloft will develop mid-week across the Rockies and then
translate eastward into the plains by Friday. All in all looks to be
a dry week ahead. A return to above normal temperatures are
expected, however record breaking warmth is not expected at this
time.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 538 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

VFR conditions will prevail across western and north central
Nebraska through Saturday morning. Winds will become westerly at
15 kts with higher gusts across northern Nebraska this
afternoon. Winds will decrease tonight at the surface, but low-
level wind shear could become a concern as southwest winds
increase just off the surface. This would be for areas across
central and southwest Nebraska.

&&

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

&&

$$

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

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion