366
FXUS63 KLBF 182343
AFDLBF
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
543 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Accumulating snow is expected across much of western and
north central Nebraska on Thursday. A combination of snow and
gusty north winds will lead to a threat for blowing and
drifting snow.
- Additional light snow is possible on Saturday, primarily
south of Interstate 80.
- After colder temperatures briefly return through this weekend
(highs in 20s to 30s), high temps return back to above average
early to middle next week (highs in 50s to 60s).
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 405 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
The primary concern for the short term will revolve around the
threat for accumulating snow Thursday.
Currently, temperatures range from the 40s across northern Nebraska
to the upper 50s to low 60s further south. A warm front bisects the
Sandhills, with a distinct north to south winds shift across
the boundary. Elevated fire weather concerns will persist into
this evening across much of the area, though this is being
tempered by gradually weakening winds.
For tonight, expect a rapid change in weather conditions, as an
upper low begins to eject east out of the Rockies and into the
Plains. As this low ejects into western Nebraska early tomorrow
morning, it is expected to take on a negative tilt. At the surface,
broad cyclogenesis persists across northeastern Colorado this
afternoon, with this low expected to push east along the
Kansas/Nebraska border tonight. As this low moves east, a strong
cold front will quickly move from north to south across the area,
ushering in a much colder airmass.
Precipitation is expected to begin across western Nebraska
overnight, as broad upslope flow leads to increasing isentropic
ascent. Guidance has come into better agreement with respect to p-
type evolution, suggesting that any threat for rain initially looks
to be very short lived. A quick changeover to snow is expected
across western Nebraska by sunrise, with all snow expected for the
entire area through the day tomorrow. Confidence continues to
increase with respect to a corridor of heavier snowfall across the
area tomorrow morning and afternoon. This is in response to a
rapidly constricting thermal gradient aloft, promoting strengthening
FGEN and associated forcing for ascent. Enhanced snowfall rates
(1"/hr+) are looking increasingly likely in narrow banding, as
guidance continues to hint at CSI and even potentially pure CI in
place tomorrow. Uncertainty lingers with respect to the location of
this band, and will remain hard to pin down until mesoscale details
become more clear. Regardless, significant impacts can be expected
within this corridor of heaviest snow, as the heavy snow rates
combine with strengthening northerly winds. As the surface low
deepens just off to the south of the area, wind gusts strengthen to
as high as 30 to 40 miles per hour. This will lead to significant
visibility reductions (below 1/2 miles at time) and blowing and
drifting snow concerns. Higher end totals (6-8"+) are also
expected where the banding establishes, and much lesser (1-4")
elsewhere. The current Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather
Advisory are in place with the thinking that this band will
occur across the central Sandhills, and refinements may be
needed once confidence grows in banding.
The system quickly begins to depart tomorrow evening, with snow
ending from west to east by Midnight Friday. Dry conditions then
prevail into sunrise Friday, with lows falling into the single
digits to slightly below zero. This brings a return of cold wind
chills as well, as low as 5 to 10 below zero.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 405 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
A very brief lull in the active pattern returns for Friday, as drier
conditions return. Highs remain colder, with highs in the 20s to
30s, and probably remaining colder in areas that see significant
snowfall. Another system passes off to the south of the area on
Saturday, bringing a threat for light snow south of Interstate
80. At this time, amounts look to remain light and impacts
should remain limited. Upper ridging then begins to establish
across the western CONUS into early next week, allowing
temperatures to moderate back above average early to middle next
week.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 543 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
Increasing clouds are expected ahead of the next winter system.
Precipitation in the form of snow will spread from west to east
starting across the Panhandle after Midnight CT. Snow will reach the
US-83 corridor by 6am CT with the heaviest snowfall falling during
the mid-morning to mid-afternoon hours. Snowfall rates of at least
an inch per hour will be possible. In addition, gusty northwest
winds up to 30 knots will create areas of blowing and drifting snow
as well as significant reductions in visibility. Snow begins to
lessen by late afternoon tapering from west to east through the
evening hours. Winds will remain strong through the TAF period, only
diminishing after 00Z Friday.
&&
.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning from midnight CST /11 PM MST/ tonight to
midnight CST /11 PM MST/ Thursday night for NEZ004-005-023>027-
036>038-094.
Winter Weather Advisory from midnight CST /11 PM MST/ tonight
to midnight CST /11 PM MST/ Thursday night for NEZ006>010-022-
028-029-035-057-059.
&&
$$
SHORT TERM...Brown
LONG TERM...Brown
AVIATION...Kulik
NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion