116
FXUS63 KLBF 120526
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1126 PM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Light accumulating snow expected Friday night into Saturday
  morning across portions of northern Nebraska.

- Very cold Saturday into Sunday morning.

- A return to warm weather is expected the first half of next
  week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 248 PM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

Warmer temperatures have returned today across central and western
Nebraska to the west of a warm front. In fact, have seen several
record highs set. Elevated fire weather concerns will continue until
around sunset with gusty west winds combing with the lower humidity
and warm temperatures. East of the warm front temperatures have
really struggled out of the 30s - but have warmed enough that any
light icing from this mornings freezing rain has melted.

The warm front will become nearly stationary this evening, and then
begin to back southwest and be located from eastern WY to southern
KS by Friday morning. A weak area of mid-level FGEN will be in place
across northern Nebraska overnight. Overall forcing is weak and
little in the way of precipitation is expected tonight. A
reinforcing cold front settles southward into northern Nebraska
Friday. FGEN starts to increase with the reinforcing boundary and
could lead to some light snow for areas generally along and north
of Hwy 20. Little accumulation is expected during the day Friday.

Conditions will become more favorable for snow Friday night into at
least the first half of Saturday across northern Nebraska. Strong
arctic high pressure will settle southward through the Dakotas with
an arctic cold front moving southward through Nebraska during the
day Saturday. Meanwhile, strong WAA aloft develops Friday evening
and continues through Saturday morning. Initially, snow develops
across portions of northern Nebraska in a northwest to southeast
oriented band Friday evening. This band will gradually lift
northeastward into SD by Saturday morning. This is where the overall
heavier snow amounts are expected. As far as snowfall amounts, the
probability of 1" or more of snowfall is mainly along and north of
Hwy 20. There is a near 80% chance of this occurring across portions
of Boyd county, and then decreasing south and westward from there.
When looking at 2" the chance decreases significantly - so fairly
confident in a 1-2" snowfall event for the above mentioned areas
Friday night into Saturday morning. Very cold Saturday behind the
arctic front, with quite a range in temperatures. Highs may struggle
to hit 10 degrees across eastern portions of north central Nebraska.
Meanwhile, highs in the lower 40s should be realized across far
southwest Nebraska.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 248 PM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

Bitter cold expected across portions of north central Nebraska
Saturday night into Sunday morning. Skies will begin to clear as
arctic surface high pressure slides southeastward down the Missouri
River Valley. Winds will be light, but with lows approaching -5F,
even light winds will create wind chills around -15F.

The high slides off to the east Sunday with return southerly low-
level flow developing. Low-level WAA develops with the return
southerly flow. A quick warm up beneath west to northwest flow aloft
through the middle of next week. Highs back into the 60s, especially
across western Nebraska both Tuesday and Wednesday.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1126 PM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

For the KLBF terminal: Expect overcast ceilings over the next 24
hours. Ceilings will fall off to 800 to 1500 FT AGL overnight,
improving somewhat to 1200 to 1600 FT AGL by late morning
Friday, remaining at those levels through 06z Saturday. For the
KVTN terminal: Expect IFR and LIFR ceilings overnight through
Friday morning with ceilings ranging from 400 to 800 FT AGL.
Ceilings will improve some Friday afternoon, ranging from 1100
to 1600 FT AGL Friday afternoon into Friday evening. Light snow
is possible Friday evening and will handle this with a prob30
group for now.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Taylor
LONG TERM...Taylor
AVIATION...Buttler