Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS North Platte, NE

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary Off
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
-- Remove Highlighting --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
596 FXUS63 KLBF 260828 AFDLBF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service North Platte NE 328 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 .KEY MESSAGES...
-- Changed Discussion --
- Another round of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening, but looking dry for Memorial Day. - Potential for active weather with more widespread thunderstorms arrives by midweek. - Trend toward warmer temperatures with readings above normal into the latter portion of the workweek.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
-- Changed Discussion --
Issued at 325 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 A look at the radar early this morning shows the region to be precipitation free. However satellite imagery and surface observations indicate a bloom of low clouds and fog underway across much of north central Nebraska. Expect the low clouds/fog will continue to expand southward to around Hwy 2 through daybreak, then gradually dissipate through Sunday morning after daybreak. By early this afternoon, an upper trof with a vigorous short wave will be pushing through the region and trigger another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms as it encounters a frontal boundary draped across central Nebraska. Convective parameters are not overly robust with CAPE values generally below 1000J/kg and looking to be of the long/skinny variety on Bufkit. 0-6km bulk shear is generally at or below 30kt but 0-1km bulk shear is 10kt or less and hodographs are not looking particularly long or loopy. Perhaps the most notable parameter is low level lapse rates around 10C with an inverted-v sounding profile. Given this set-up, expect scattered thunderstorms to develop across northwest Nebraska and spread east/southeastward across the region before exiting off to the east early this evening. Severe potential appears low though with the steep lapse rates anticipate some storms will produce gusty outflows and will monitor the mesoscale conditions closely for landspout potential. As the upper trof axis moves to our east, ridging aloft will help high pressure displace the frontal boundary as it builds down form the north Sunday night into Monday. There is a small hint for an isolated shower developing in a lingering ribbon of minimal instability late Monday afternoon, but this guidance is an outlier in the distinct minority so anticipate dry conditions across central and western Nebraska for Memorial Day. Highs today and Monday will range from the lower 70s north to upper 70s south of I-80. Lows will be in the 40s.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
Issued at 325 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 Ensemble guidance is in good agreement in sharpening the upper ridge over the Rockies before a trof moves out of the PacNW later in the week. At the surface, high pressure will build over the Great Lakes and the eastern half of the country. With the surface high to our east, southerly flow will establish efficient moisture transport into the Plains with a ribbon of precipitable water values into the 90th percentile running up from Texas through the Dakotas and continuing northward into Canada by later Wednesday through Thursday. This moisture will be very effective in giving our instability a significant boost and set the stage for rounds of thunderstorms Wednesday onward with potential for locally heavy rainfall and an as yet undefined severe threat worth keeping an eye on, especially Thursday as a cold front moves into the region. This front may wash out and linger over the area and continue our chances for showers and thunderstorms through the end of the week and into next weekend. Temperatures will generally be above normal throughout next week.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1208 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 Areas of IFR/LIFR stratus/fog is expected to develop across northern Nebraska tonight with a quick return to VFR conditions around sunrise, impacting KVTN. Otherwise, VFR conditions are expected to continue across western and north central Nebraska. Winds will remain out of the north/northwest at generally 15 knots or less. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...MBS LONG TERM...MBS AVIATION...Viken