745
FXUS63 KLBF 081149
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
649 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Precipitation chances increase late Wednesday into the
  weekend, with a chance of isolated thunderstorms Sat.

- Warmer, above normal temperatures this weekend with highs in
  the 70s/80s

- Cooler Tuesday with highs below normal in the upper 40s to low
  50s

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 238 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

A potent closed upper low and associated surface low will track
eastward across Alberta into Manitoba today. This will drive a cold
frontal boundary southward through the area this morning. Winds will
shift to the north after the frontal passage. As the boundary layer
mixes after sunrise, winds will become quite gusty from along Hwy 83
and eastward mid to late morning before decreasing this afternoon.
Bufkit sounding profile data suggests wind gust up to 45 mph will be
possible for a couple of hours mid-morning. As temperatures warm
into the 60s this afternoon, elevated to potentially near-critical
fire weather conditions are expected. The near-critical appears to
mostly be across north central into central Nebraska, where humidity
values may drop as low as 20% or so. However, the strongest winds
occur this morning with the lower humidity this afternoon when winds
will be in the process of slowly diminishing. With the stronger
winds and lowest humidity out of sync, fire weather headlines are
not expected to be needed.

The center of high pressure will track southeastward through the
Dakotas, and be located across IA and MN by Thursday afternoon.
Winds will turn to the southeast and allow for slightly higher dew
points to move northward into the area. This should keep any fire
weather concerns at bay, although elevated conditions could develop
across the western Sandhills and the Panhandle. A reinforcing surge
of high pressure moves southward into the Dakotas later in the day
Thursday and into Thursday night. This will push a weak cold
front/wind shift to the northeast across the area Thursday night.
Somewhat cooler conditions are expected Friday behind the front as
well as higher humidity.

As far as precipitation chances, there is some decent mid-level FGEN
that develops Thursday night and lingers into Friday. Some light
rain or a light rain snow mix will be possible. At this time amounts
look very light.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 238 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

An upper level ridge moves eastward into the High Plains
Saturday and Sunday. High temperatures will reach the mid 70s to low
80s this weekend. Moisture advects into the region with southerly
flow, increasing precipitation chances. SFC low pressure across the
northwest will deepen and sfc winds will increase becoming breezy by
the afternoon with 15 to 20 mph sustained and gusts up to 40 mph. A
warm front will translate across the state. There will be a chance
for some isolated thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening,
mainly across portions of southwest Nebraska into north central
Nebraska where weak instability exist. The greater chance for
thunderstorms will be east into central and eastern Nebraska where
better instability exists.

The active weather pattern will continue into early next week with a
series of disturbances and increased precipitation chances continue
Sunday and Monday. A cold front will push through on Monday with
colder temperatures Monday night and Tuesday. Could see the
potential for some light snow Monday night as temperatures will be
below freezing. Highs on Tuesday will be below normal with
temperatures only in the upper 40s to low 50s.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 640 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

VFR conditions will prevail over the next 24 hours. Winds will
be strongest this morning out of the north with sustained winds
of 10 to 15 kts and gusts of 35 kts. Winds will begin to
diminish this evening and become northeast around 5 to 10 kts
after midnight.

&&

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

&&

$$

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

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion