618
FXUS63 KLBF 191930
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
230 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Rain chances increase Wednesday and then again Thursday night
  into Friday. Some decent rainfall amounts, possibly over one-
  half inch are possible in spots.

- A warming trend is then expected through the weekend. Highs
  will climb from the 70s Sunday into the 80s Sunday and Monday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 151 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

High pressure will settle southward across Minnesota and Iowa
tonight into Wednesday morning. Aloft, southwest flow will be
dominate across the region ahead of a shortwave crossing the
Intermountain West. Have issued a frost advisory for portions of
north central Nebraska late tonight till just after sunrise
Wednesday morning. This area will be the last to see an increase in
cloudiness as the shortwave approaches the area late tonight. The
increase in cloud should keep the rest of the area in the mid to
upper 30s and frost free.

As mentioned, clouds will increase, and will be a cloudy day
Wednesday. Rain chances will also be on the increase. As the
shortwave trough approaches from the west, mid-level WAA will be on
the increase. An area of mid-level FGEN also develops, and should
see a northeast to southwest band of light to perhaps briefly
moderate rain develop in the morning and then begin to decrease by
later in the afternoon as the FGEN weakens. As for amounts, fairly
high probabilities of one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch. This
would most favor southwest Nebraska.

Skies clear some as the shortwave moves east of the area Wednesday
night. At this time, looks like temperatures will remain above any
frost potential.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 151 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

The next system is already on the horizon Thursday through Friday.
The probability of seeing some decent rainfall amounts is on the
increase. This is supported by both the 19/12Z NAM and ECMWF which
dig a negatively tilted trough farther southward into Colorado
Thursday night, and then pivots northeastward across the Central
Plains Friday. Looking at the various ensemble suites, confidence is
high in much of the area receiving at least one-quarter of an inch,
with some locations likely to exceed one-half inch of rainfall.

System weakens across the area Saturday with a subtle upper trough
still located over the area. Lingering cloud cover and a few
isolated showers will start the Memorial Day weekend. Ridging aloft
then builds across the area Sunday into Monday with a couple of very
nice days expected Sunday into Monday. In fact, will become quite
warm by Monday, as highs climb from the lower 80s Sunday and into
mid and upper 80s Monday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1233 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

VFR conditions  will prevail through tonight across all of
western and north central Nebraska. A weather disturbance will
approach the area tonight, with showers developing across
portions of the Sandhills and especially southwest Nebraska
Wednesday morning. Surface winds will be north today, becoming
south on Wednesday.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Frost Advisory from 1 AM to 7 AM CDT Wednesday for NEZ006-007-
009-010-028-029.

&&

$$

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

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion