402
FXUS63 KLBF 022321
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
521 PM CST Fri Jan 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Wintry precipitation will linger into early this evening
  across eastern portions of north central Nebraska. Sleet,
  freezing rain, and light snow could lead to hazardous travel
  conditions.

- Dry conditions return for this weekend and continue through
  Wednesday of next week, along with well above average
  temperatures (highs in 50s to 60s).

- The combination dry conditions, near record temperatures, and
  gusty west winds could lead to near critical fire weather
  concerns Sunday afternoon across much of western Nebraska.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 145 PM CST Fri Jan 2 2026

Currently, weak surface low pressure extended across eastern CO
into the southern NE panhandle. A warm front extended across
western KS as a stationary front extended across the western Ne
panhandle. Aloft, a shortwave trough was cross int the Sandhills
into northeast NE. A shallow cold airmass is in place across
north central and central Nebraska, with light rain near and
west of Hwy 83, and light freezing rain to the east. A mix of
freezing rain, sleet and light snow is expected into early this
evening east of Hwy 183, where a Winter Weather Advisory remains
in effect until 9 pm CST.

Overnight, a warm front will advance east of Hwy 83 by 12Z with
skies becoming mostly clear across the west. Lows will fall
into the low to mid 20s with a light west wind or light and
variable wind.

Saturday, upper height rises as the warm front becomes
stationary across northeast Nebraska. Skies mostly sunny in the
afternoon. Went slightly warmer than the NBM for highs near the
50th percentile. Light westerly winds 5 to 10 mph with above
average highs in the low to mid 40s far northeast, to the mid
50s to near 60 across the Sandhills and southwest.

Increasing cloudiness Saturday night as surface low pressure
deepens along the Front Range. Warm H85 temperatures from 8C to
12C as lows fall into the mid 20s to low 30s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 145 PM CST Fri Jan 2 2026

Persistent unseasonably warm temperatures are forecast Sunday
through Wednesday of next week. A broad upper ridge will be
centered over the Central U.S on Sunday, as an upper trough
remains across the West Coast and Intermountain West.

On Sunday, anomalously warm H85 temperatures will exist east of
the Front Range. H85 temps from 10 to 15C will be above the
90th percentile. Forecast highs from the upper 50s northeast to
upper 60s southwest, could warm even further, as the NBM 50th
percentile is a few degrees warmer. The forecast warm
temperatures will have impacts on fire weather concerns. As
these near record temperatures combine with dry air and
strengthening west winds, a period of near-critical fire
conditions may develop Sunday afternoon. The strongest winds
look to remain west of Highway 83, where gust of 20 to 30 mph
are possible.

Very mild and dry conditions persist Monday through Wednesday,
with broad zonal flow aloft. This will bring persistent westerly
downslope winds across the area, and keep highs much above
average. Highs in the low 60s Monday forecast to still reach the
mid to upper 50s Tuesday and Wednesday. The mild temperatures
and gusty westerly winds across the west will continue to bring
elevated fire weather concerns Monday through Wednesday.

The GFS and ECMWF deterministic bring a cold front through
Wednesday night, with cooler highs in the low to mid 40s
Thursday. An upper trough moving across Thursday into Friday
bring at least a slight chance for rain or snow showers.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 520 PM CST Fri Jan 2 2026

Wintry precipitation will continue to push southeast of the region
over the next couple of hours. Some lingering lower level clouds
down to 500 feet could continue to impact northern Nebraska through
late evening. Ceilings will then rise back above 6000 feet for the
remainder of the TAF period. At KLBF, 4500 foot ceilings will
continue to rise over the next couple of hours rising back above
6000 feet by 01Z. Winds are expected to remain light (under 10
knots) through Saturday afternoon.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for NEZ010-
026>029-038.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Roberg
LONG TERM...Roberg
AVIATION...Kulik

NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion