497
FXUS63 KLBF 070549
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1149 PM CST Sat Dec 6 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- An artic cold front moves into the area tonight, leading to
  quickly falling temperatures. A warm front then lifts into the
  Sandhills tomorrow afternoon, bringing a threat for snow
  showers.

- Well above average temperatures (highs in the 50s to low 60s)
  and dry conditions then return for Monday and Tuesday.

- Much colder temperatures (highs in 20s to 30s) return by late
  week, along with some threat for wintry precipitation.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 235 PM CST Sat Dec 6 2025

Currently, snow has largely ended across north central Nebraska,
with dry conditions returning to much of western and central
Nebraska. Mostly sunny skies are in place west of HWY 281, with
temperatures in the low 40s to low 50s.

For tonight, expect an arctic cold front currently positioned across
southern South Dakota, to continue to drop southward into the
Sandhills. This will lead to quickly falling temperatures tonight
with its passage, with lows falling into the low teens for much of
northern Nebraska. By late tomorrow morning, a shortwave will cross
the Rockies aloft, with an associated weak surface low ejecting into
northwest Kansas. As this occurs, a warm front will lift east across
the area, shunting the shallow arctic airmass eastwards. This will
lead to a wide range in high temperatures tomorrow, with middle 20s
near HWY 281 to lower to middle 40s near and west of HWY 61. The
approach of this front will also lead to increasing low-level
isentropic ascent, and looks to be enough to lead to a fast moving
band of light snow from west to east through the afternoon. Little
to no accumulation is expected tomorrow, largely tied to the limited
duration of snowfall at any given location. Still, brief visibility
reductions will be possible and could lead to hazardous travel
conditions. Lows again fall into the upper teens to 20s tomorrow
night, though warm advection will begin to increase towards sunrise
Monday.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 235 PM CST Sat Dec 6 2025

Northwest flow establishes aloft as we head into early next week,
suggesting a return of drier conditions to western and north central
Nebraska. At the surface, a duo of clipper systems will move through
the upper Midwest, with westerly downslope flow establishing locally
behind the passage of the first system. This strengthening warm
advection will boost highs into the upper 40s to 50s on Monday. The
coolest temperatures can be expected east of HWY 281. The second,
and much stronger clipper system dives into the Dakotas by Tuesday
afternoon. An associated surface trough pushes into eastern
Nebraska, and leads to strong westerly winds across all of western
and north central Nebraska. In fact, westerly wind gusts in excess
of 40 miles per hour are looking increasingly likely for areas west
of HWY 83 on Tuesday afternoon. This strong downslope boosts highs
even further, with much of the Sandhills and southwest Nebraska
making a run into the 60s. Though humidity does not look to decrease
to critical thresholds Tuesday, the combination of mild temperatures
and strong west winds could lead to a period of elevated fire
weather concerns, especially across western Nebraska.

As this clipper system begins to approach the Great Lakes Tuesday
night, a cold front will quickly push through the area from
northwest to southeast. This looks to provide a glancing blow
of colder air Wednesday, with the bulk of cold air remaining
across far eastern Nebraska into Iowa. Still, highs will
struggle to climb out of the middle 30s east of HWY 183. Further
west, highs in the upper 40s to low 50s can be expected in
southwest Nebraska.

A second reinforcing cold front then pushes through the area on
Wednesday night, bringing much colder air to all of western and
north central Nebraska. Unfortunately, this cold air then looks
to stick around into next weekend, with highs remaining below
average in the 20s to 30s. This also may bring a threat of
accumulating snow to the area, and trends will need to be
monitored. Though amounts remain unclear, a growing signal
exists in ensemble guidance for at least light accumulating snow
middle to late next week.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1136 PM CST Sat Dec 6 2025

Stratus continues to sag southward across the Sandhills and
north central Nebraska including KVTN and KLBF terminals where
lower cigs have led to MVFR to LIFR conditions tonight. Lower
clouds are expected to stick around until Sunday afternoon with
VFR conditions returning by Sunday afternoon. Some patchy fog
has developed across the northern Sandhills, including KVTN
terminal with lower visibilities. Winds will generally be out of
the northwest overnight around 10 to 15 kts with gust up to 20
kts across portions of the southern Sandhills. Winds will
become southwesterly by Sunday afternoon around 5 to 10 kts.


&&

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

&&

$$

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