693
FXUS63 KLBF 181147
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
547 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- High Wind Warning in effect for all of western and north
  central Nebraska thru 6pm CST this evening

- Cooler temperatures today in the wake of the cold front
  passage, highs will range from upper 20s to low 40s

- Elevated fire weather concerns today

- Temperatures warm back up Friday into the weekend

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 345 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

The main concern in the short term will be the strong winds
this morning into the afternoon hours. As the low deepens across
the Dakotas continues to move southeastward into southwest MN
by this afternoon. As it moves southeastward the tight pressure
gradient will move east as well and will see winds diminish
fairly quickly by late afternoon. A brief lull in the strong
winds early this morning is expected, with strong winds
returning by sunrise, as we mix out around 750-700mb by mid
morning into early afternoon we will see the strongest wind gust
as bufkit soundings show wind gust around 60 to 70 kts around
the 700 mb level mixing down to 60 mph or higher with stronger
winds expected the greater mixing that occurs. The High Wind
Warning will remain in effect until 6pm CST this evening. There
will also be an elevated fire weather concern due to the strong
winds in combination of the min RH values ranging from 25 to 35
percent, generally for fire weather zones across western and
southwest Nebraska.

As for highs today, temperatures will remain cool in the wake of
the cold front passage with highs only in the upper 20 s across
north central Nebraska where CAA will be strongest. 30s to low
40s expected for the Sandhills into southwest Nebraska.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 345 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

The strong upper level low will continue to progress eastward
into the Great Lakes Region and weak ridging across the Rockies
on Friday with some weak WAA moving into the High Plains region
will see above normal temperatures returning by Friday with
highs in the 50s and 60s. Another cold front moves into the area
cooling temperatures back into the low to mid 40s Saturday and
the upper 40s to low 50s on Sunday, both of which, despite
being cooler than Friday, temperatures will still range from 5
to 15 degrees above normal for this time of year. Expect the
system to remain mostly dry, however there could be some light
precip Friday night into Sunday for far northwest Sandhills(Pine
Ridge area). Heading into the holiday week, expect the above
normal and dry conditions to continue through Christmas Eve with
highs in the 50s and 60s Monday through Wednesday.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 541 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

LLWS will continue through the morning hours across much of the
Sandhills into north central Nebraska, including both terminal
sites, KLBF and KVTN. LLWS will be out of the northwest with
60kts winds. At the SFC winds will also remain strong through
the afternoon with winds out of the northwest, sustained winds
will be around 25 to near 40 kts with gust around 50 kts. Winds
will diminish quickly by late afternoon with sustained winds
around 10kts. There will also be a brief period of snow showers
this morning across north central Nebraska, including KVTN
terminal, with brief impacts to visibility possible and some
stronger wind gust in excess of 65 mph could be possible. Winds
will switch to the south after midnight around 5 to 10 kts.


&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning until 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ this evening for
NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094.

&&

$$

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

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion