Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS North Platte, NE
Issued by NWS North Platte, NE
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198 FXUS63 KLBF 252359 AFDLBF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service North Platte NE 659 PM CDT Thu Apr 25 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe weather potential late this afternoon and evening - Widespread rainfall through the weekend - Cooler temperatures this weekend && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 302 PM CDT Thu Apr 25 2024 The biggest concern in the short term will be the severe weather potential. Still think the greatest concern for severe weather will be mostly along and south of interstate 80, however there is the potential for an increase in a marginal severe potential across southeastern Panhandle in Nebraska. As the day has progressed clouds became a little more broken in nature than the anticipated stratus, which has resulted in a little more heating with temperatures warming into the mid 60s and resulted in a little more mixing, with some gustier winds, around 25 to 30 mph. There has also been a slight increase in confidence of a slightly northward shift for initial thunderstorm development, previously anticipated initial thunderstorm development to be a little farther southward into KS, but storm initiation is starting to favor a northward trend with initial storm development towards the KS/NE border. The main uncertainty continues to be on severe storm development. Although there is greater confidence that thunderstorms will develop across southwestern Nebraska, for sfc based storms, the environment at this time still has less than favorable low-level lapse rates, currently only 5.5 to 6 C/km, but mid-level lapse rates are better around 8.5 C/km. SFC based CAPE values are around 1000 J/kg and MU CAPE values have increased to around 1500 J/Kg. Low level moisture has streamed into southwest Nebraska and even farther north into the Sandhills where dewpoints have increased into the low 50s. The greatest threat for severe weather still lies generally along and south of interstate 80, with the better threat closer to the NE/KS border, where large hail, gusty winds and an isolated tornado may be possible. That being said an elevated severe storm could still be possible outside of I-80 southward area, where there is a potential for large hail and damaging winds. A mid-level boundary cross-sects portions of southwest Nebraska, generally a line from Arthur to Farnam, where north and east of this line would expect storm intensity to lessen as it moves into a more stable environment. The upper level low will be slow to move out of the area and hang around through Friday night. As far as rainfall goes, tonight through Friday night there is the potential to see amounts of 0.5 to 1", with localized locations that see thunderstorms having the potential for greater rainfall amounts. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 302 PM CDT Thu Apr 25 2024 A secondary Low pressure system moves in from the Four Corners region into the High Plains Region later Saturday, bringing another round of widespread precipitation across western and north central Nebraska. Rain showers are expected to continue through the day Sunday before tapering late Sunday night into Monday. Could see rainfall amounts around a half inch, possibly more in localized areas that could see more training of showers. On Saturday, temperatures will cool down across the Sandhills into northwest Nebraska with highs only in the low 50s, but temperatures will still manage to reach the 60s to low 70s across southwest Nebraska into southern north central Nebraska. Widespread cool temperatures expected on Sunday as highs struggle to get into the upper 40s to low 50s. After Monday the upper level Low will translate to the northeast and the flow will become more zonal. Drier conditions will return and warm air moves in with temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 658 PM CDT Thu Apr 25 2024 Poor flying conditions across central and western Nebraska through the majority of this valid period. Gusty winds will continue as CIGs lower to IFR shortly after issuance as showers and thunderstorms develop/push up form the southwest. The most likely timing for showers/thunderstorms at KLBF will be through about Midnight, followed by a lull, then redevelopment by early Friday morning. For KVTN most likely timing will be 10PM until 2AM with a similar lull and redevelopment early Friday morning. CIGs will slowly rise through Friday morning into the afternoon, though any return to VFR conditions will likely hold off until near the end of this valid period. Some gusty conditions will return Friday afternoon as winds become northwesterly. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Gomez LONG TERM...Gomez AVIATION...MBS