500
FXUS63 KLBF 141724
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1124 AM CST Sun Dec 14 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A cold start to the morning, with widespread wind chills
  below zero. The coldest wind chills will be across north
  central Nebraska where wind chills between 10 to 15 degrees
  below zero are expected.

- Above average temperatures return this week, with highs in
  the 50s to 60s early to mid week. A brief cooldown is expected
  Thursday, before temperatures warm again on Friday.

- A mostly dry forecast is expected throughout the week, though
  a quick moving system Wednesday night into Thursday may bring
  light precipitation across portions of northern Nebraska.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 317 AM CST Sun Dec 14 2025

An upper level ridge is observed over the western United States,
including portions of western Nebraska early this morning. An area
of high pressure is observed across eastern Nebraska, which is
allowing cold temperatures to track across the region. Further to
the west, a stationary front is observed along the front range of
the Rockies, with an expanse of stratus spreading out the east. This
expanse of stratus is observed over portions of western and
southwest Nebraska, which is helping keep temperatures warmer
compared to areas with clear skies. Temperatures as of 3 AM range
from below zero across north central Nebraska to the teens in
southwest Nebraska under the stratus deck.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 317 AM CST Sun Dec 14 2025

The morning starts out cold across western and north central
Nebraska. Even with the warmer temperatures under the stratus deck,
wind chills are expected to drop below zero across most of western
and north central Nebraska. Most notably, under the clear skies
across north central Nebraska, wind chills are expected to reach 10
to 15 degrees below zero early this morning, though some locations
may see even colder wind chills. Temperatures gradually warm from
west to east this morning, with wind chills climbing above zero by
late morning.

By the afternoon, a temperature gradient is expected across the
region, with highs in the mid 40s to low 50s across western Nebraska
to the upper 20s across north central Nebraska. As a surface trof
ejects across the region this afternoon, fairly breezy conditions
are expected across the Sandhills and areas east of Highway 83.
Winds will primarily be out of the south around 15 to 20 mph, with
peak gusts up to 35 mph for a few hours east of Highway 83.

Winds persist into the evening, as a warm front tracks across the
region tonight. The warm frontal passage will shift winds to
westerly, and will also bring some warmer overnight temperatures.
Behind the front, overnight lows remain in the mid to upper 20s.
Ahead of the front, temperatures remain in the high teens to low
20s, along with gusts up to 20 mph. The continued upper level
ridging and frontal passage will usher in a return of above average
temperatures early week, with highs returning to the upper 40s and
50s across most of the region Monday afternoon.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 317 AM CST Sun Dec 14 2025

Upper level ridging continues on Tuesday, which will help keep
temperatures above average early week. Highs on Tuesday are expected
to reach the 50s and 60s across the region. By Wednesday, an upper
level trough is expected to begin tracking across the northern
United States, with a surface low pressure system tracking across
the northern Plains. This system may bring some impacts Wednesday
night into Thursday across the region. However, prior to this, highs
again climb into the 50s and 60s across the region. Gusty westerly
winds are expected across most of western and north central Nebraska
Wednesday afternoon. With above average temperatures, somewhat lower
relative humidity, and gusty westerly winds, this may lead to some
elevated fire weather concerns Wednesday afternoon.

The upper level shortwave continues to track across the northern
Plains Wednesday evening along with the surface low. This is
expected to track a cold front across the region late Wednesday into
Thursday. As this front tracks through the region, there will be a
chance for light precipitation across portions of northern Nebraska
Wednesday night into early Thursday. This will be the main chances
for precipitation throughout this week. Behind the front, cooler
temperatures are expected Thursday afternoon, though highs will
mostly be seasonal, around the low 40s. However, the cool off is
expected to be short lived, with highs returning above average on
Friday into the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1125 AM CST Sun Dec 14 2025

Low stratus persists into this afternoon across much of the
Sandhills and southwest Nebraska, with IFR/LIFR CIGS expected.
This low stratus will continue to slowly erode into late
afternoon, with VFR expected to return to all terminals by
tonight. VFR conditions then prevail into tomorrow afternoon.

Winds remain gusty from the south today, with gusts of 20 to 25
expected. Winds then become westerly tonight, at 5 to 10kts.

&&

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

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...Richie
SHORT TERM...Richie
LONG TERM...Richie
AVIATION...Brown

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion