771
FXUS63 KLBF 011716
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1216 PM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- High confidence in showers coming to an end this morning with
  flooding concerns limited.

- Moderate confidence in colder temperatures on Thursday night, but
  frost potential remains low.

- Dry weather is expected Saturday through the middle of next
  week.

- A warm up is expected Saturday with highs into the 70s. A
  cold front will bring a cool down to the 60s Sunday. A warming
  trend is then expected Monday through Wednesday.

- Strong, gusty south winds are expected Monday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 224 AM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

Overall, the heaviest rainfall has come to an end across north
central Nebraska. However, some isolated to scattered showers may
continue through Thursday morning especially across areas south of I-
80. Little additional rainfall will fall out of these showers with
QPF values generally under a tenth (0.1) of an inch expected.
Therefore, with little precipitation expected and the threat of
flooding coming to an end, have gone ahead and ended what remained
of the flood watch. As strong high pressure builds south back into
the area, any lingering rain showers will come to an end by early
afternoon with quieter conditions continuing through Friday night.

High pressure building south will also bring some cooler
temperatures to the region. This will result in highs in the low to
mid 60s today. Lows tonight will be significantly colder as well
with most locations seeing overnight temperatures dropping into the
low to mid 40s. At this time not expecting any frost potential, as
this is likely the coolest air over the next week, those with
sensitive plants or outside concerns may want to take some
precautions. Temperatures may moderate a little across northwest
Nebraska on Friday as some warmer air off the Front Ranges tries to
push into the Panhandle. Still expect highs on Friday to range from
the low 70s across the Pine Ridge to the low 60s in central
Nebraska. Friday night lows will also rise a few degrees from
Thursday night into the mid 40s to low 50s as the warmer air nudges
into the region.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 224 AM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

Upper-level ridging will build across the desert southwest through
the upcoming weekend and into the middle of next week. A dry
northwest flow aloft will become established across our area on the
northeast periphery of the high.

Canadian surface high pressure shifts east of the area Saturday,
with gusty south winds developing ahead of a weak approaching
shortwave and associated cold front. Appears the cold front will
enter northwest Nebraska mid-morning Saturday, and then track
southward through all of the area by early Saturday evening.
Temperatures have trended up Saturday as deep mixing brings warmer
air aloft to the surface. Highs in the mid to upper 70s are now
expected across a large part of the area. Weak cold air advection,
and another high pressure center from Canada, will slide
southeastward behind the front Saturday night. This will cool highs
back into the mid and upper 60s Sunday.

The surface high slides east of the region Monday. The surface
pressure gradient will tighten between the high to the east and a
deepening leeward trough to the west. This will result in gusty
south through the day Monday. Gusts in excess of 40 mph look likely
across the Sandhills and portions of north central Nebraska. Winds
decrease for Tuesday as the leeward trough shifts eastward across
the area. A warm up is slated for next week, with highs Monday in
the mid 60s to mid 70s, mid 70s to near 80 Tuesday and 70s for
Wednesday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1215 PM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail through tomorrow
afternoon across all of western and north central Nebraska.

Gusty northeast winds persist into this evening, with gusts of
25 to 35kts expected to continue for all terminals. Winds then
become light and variable overnight, generally 5kts or less.
Southerly winds then strengthen tomorrow afternoon, with gusts
again of 25 to 35kts expected.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Kulik
LONG TERM...Taylor
AVIATION...Brown