216
FXUS63 KLBF 031140
AFDLBF
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
540 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Patchy fog will be possible once again this morning across
portions of north central into central Nebraska
- Mild temperatures will continue through the week into the weekend
- Thursday will be the warmest day of the week with widespread
50s and 60s
- Light precipitation chances this afternoon through early
Wednesday
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 404 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026
Did increase high temperatures for today, generally
across western and southwest Nebraska, along with the Sandhills.
Probabilistic models suggest at least a 50 percent or better of
seeing highs reach the mid 50s or warmer across western NE. Did
keep temperatures cooler across north central Nebraska, where
low clouds will linger through much of the day keeping
temperatures cooler.
There will also be a chance for fog again tonight across portions of
north central Nebraska. Fog development will remain patchy, thus a
dense fog advisory will not be needed, however there could be some
locations where visibility drops to 1/4 mile at times.
As for precipitation today, a disturbance will move in this
afternoon increasing chances for precipitation from west to
east through the day into the evening and overnight.
Precipitation type through the afternoon and mid evening, will
generally be light rain showers. Then as temperatures cool this
evening, a transition from rain to snow showers will be
possible, with the greatest potential for changeover to snow,
generally around midnight and later. Widespread moisture is not
expected, in fact qpf values will remain fairly light with only
a few hundredths expected, with the highest values and the
greatest potential for precipitation across the northern
Sandhills. As for snowfall amounts, only trace amounts expected.
Precipitation will likely be in the form of rain showers,
transitioning to snow showers overnight.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 404 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026
The upper level ridge will continue to build across the
western CONUS with northwest flow over the area. Thursday continues
to be the warmest day of the week and EFI continues to increase with
confidence increasing in the potential of seeing some extreme
temperatures on Thursday. The current forecast has mid to upper 60s
but with forecast trending towards extreme temperatures could need
to boost highs for Thursday, this will be nearing record
temperatures, see climate section for more information on record
highs.
Along with the warmer temperatures on Thursday, will also need to
monitor the increase for fire weather potential, winds will be
breezy Thursday with sustained winds around 15 to 20 mph and gust up
to 30 mph, combined with dry conditions could lead to elevated fire
weather concerns for Thursday afternoon.
The ridge will slowly move eastward through the week, keeping
mild temperatures through the weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 532 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026
Lower cigs across northern Nebraska will continue IFR conditions
through mid-morning hours. Patchy fog is possible across
portions of north central Nebraska this morning. Fog is expected
to be east of KVTN terminal, potentially impacting KONL and
KANW with brief MVFR conditions. Any patchy fog that develops
should be out of the area by mid morning. Light rain will be
possible in the afternoon and evening and could transition to
light snow overnight, however at this time it looks to be more
rain/snow showers, at this time confidence is low in how
widespread this will be. Winds will be out of the northwest
around 5 to 10 kts for most of the forecast period, with an
increase in winds Wednesday evening across the far northern
Sandhills with gust up to 20 kts. Cigs will begin to lower again
Wednesday morning across the northern Sandhills with MVFR
conditions possible.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Issued at 404 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026
Temperatures continue to trend warmer for Thursday and will be
nearing record highs on Thursday for North Platte, Broken Bow and
Valentine. The current forecast has high temperatures in the mid to
upper 60s across western and southwest Nebraska and in the low to
mid 60s across the Sandhills. Here are the record highs for the four
climate sites along with the forecast high temperature for Thursday.
...........Forecast High.....Record High................
North Platte....66 degrees...69 degrees(1904)
Broken Bow......65 degrees...66 degrees(2009)
Valentine.......64 degrees...68 degrees(1963)
Imperial........66 degrees...74 degrees(1904)
&&
.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
$$
SHORT TERM...Gomez
LONG TERM...Gomez
AVIATION...Gomez
CLIMATE...Gomez
NWS LBF Office Area Forecast Discussion