476
FXUS63 KLBF 182339
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
639 PM CDT Sun Oct 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dry and mild conditions continue through much of the upcoming week
  with highs warming into the upper 70s Thursday and Friday.

- A cold front moves through the area Friday night into
  Saturday, bringing some chance for showers and a few
  thunderstorms. Slightly cooler highs in the 60s for Saturday
  and Sunday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 141 PM CDT Sun Oct 18 2026

Tonight...A weak surface trough will extend from southwest NE into
eastern portions of north central NE. Surface winds will remain
light and variable with an increase in mid and high cloudiness.
Lows 35 to 40.

Monday...Southwest flow aloft across the region, with a disturbance
moving into the Four Corners Region. Mixing across the area will
be very limited, as winds remain light and variable, becoming
light southeast late afternoon. Mainly sunny with highs in the
60s.

Monday night into Tuesday...The disturbance over the Four Corners
will weaken, influenced by split flow aloft across CO into NE. The
HREF shows low probabilities for stratus to develop late Monday
night into Tuesday morning across southwest and central NE. Lows
Monday night mainly in the low 40s. Surface low pressure deepening
along the Front Range will bring an increased surface pressure
gradient with southerly winds increasing to 10 to 20 mph in the
afternoon. Highs Tuesday warmer from the upper 60s to lower 70s.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Issued at 141 PM CDT Sun Oct 18 2026

Wednesday and Thursday...Upper ridging will strengthen across the
Central U.S. as troughing will persist across the western U.S. with
a closed low of the coast of central California on Wednesday moving
inland Thursday. Highs warm into the 70s Wednesday and Thursday.

Thursday night through Friday...The lead shortwave trough
within the main western U.S. upper trough is forecast to fill
and lift into the Northern Plains. This will drive a cold front
into the area Friday night. Will see an increase in moisture
ahead of the front, with dewpoints in the 50s Thursday and
Friday. Southerly winds will also increase to 15 to 25 mph
across the west on Thursday, and windy Friday area wide, at 20
to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph.

Could see a few showers in advance of the system Thursday night
into Friday, with increased chances for showers and a few
thunderstorms Friday night into Saturday as the main upper
trough lifts through the region and interacts with the front.
Highs warm into the upper 70s Thursday and Friday, cooling into
the upper 50s to upper 60s Saturday and mid 60s Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 638 PM CDT Sun Oct 18 2026

VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period.

High level clouds will continue to stream into the area but
shouldn`t produce any impacts to aviation operations. Winds will
be light and variable early before becoming predominantly
easterly but remaining below 10 knots.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Roberg
LONG TERM...Roberg
AVIATION...NMJ

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion