989
FXUS63 KLBF 181711
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1211 PM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Continued hot temperatures this weekend, with Heat Advisories
  in effect Sunday and Monday for portions of the forecast area.

- Isolated thunderstorms possible Saturday afternoon and early
  evening for portions of the Sandhills.

- A slight chance for thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening
  portions of the Sandhills.

- Temperatures return to near normal Tuesday through Friday with
  thunderstorms chances, with the higher chances Wednesday and
  Wednesday night.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 140 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Short Term (Today through Sunday night): The main concern in
the short term will be the heat this weekend and the isolated
chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening. Upper
level high pressure continues to remain centered across the
High Plains with strong WAA and 850 temps around 24 to 30
degrees celsius this weekend leading to hot and dangerous
temperatures by Sunday. High temperatures reaching the 90s to
low 100s by Sunday. Saturday the heat index will remain below
criteria thus no need for heat headlines. Sunday will be warmer
and heat indicies will reaching and exceeding the 100 degree
heat index across the northern Sandhills into north central
Nebraska. Did extend the heat advisory on Sunday to the west to
include Sheridan County.

As far as thunderstorm chances this weekend, there will be an
isolated chance for thunderstorms this afternoon and early
evening. The frontal boundary currently located across southern
South Dakota will slowly sag southward today and become stalled
across portions of the central Sandhills into north central
Nebraska. This will become the primary focus for any isolated
convection that develops this afternoon. Convection is expected
to be mainly general thunderstorms as the environment is not
supportive to sustain any organized severe potential. Storm
development will generally be diurnally driven, thus the
potential for thunderstorm development will wane by sunset.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 140 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Monday...A broad upper ridge will extend across the Western and
Central U.S. The upper ridge will be centered from Utah across
western Kansas. NBM high temperatures are forecast from 99 to 104
across much of the forecast area. Corresponding heat indices will
range from 98 to 102. Did include Garden, Grant, Hooker, Arthur
and Deuel County to the existing Heat Advisory. Now, the Heat
Advisory is in effect for all counties except Sheridan County,
where heat index values will fall below criteria at around 95
degrees. A weak cold front is forecast to move into the central
Sandhills (near Highway 2 and 91) by late afternoon. This may
trigger isolated storms late Monday afternoon and evening, and
have slight chance POPs. The cold front will quickly advance to
near the Nebraska/Kansas border by 06Z Tuesday.

Tuesday through Thursday...A reprieve from the heat is expected
as the upper ridge will be pushed further west and south into
the Rockies and Southern Plains with upper troughing across the
Great Lakes. This will place western Nebraska in northwest flow
aloft with at least low chance POPs across a good portion of the
area for showers/storms Tuesday night through Thursday night.
The best opportunity for precipitation appears to be Wednesday
into Wednesday night per the 00Z deterministic ECMWF, GFS, and
Canadian GDPS, as well as the corresponding ensembles. The upper
ridge is forecast to build eastward into the region on Friday.

Highs Tuesday to reach the upper 80s to lower 90s, which is still 2
to 4 degrees above normal. Highs Wednesday through Friday close to
normal. Wednesday, 85 to 90, except low 90s southwest. Thursday,
highs 85 to 90, and upper 80s to near 90 Friday. &&

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1204 PM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail through the next 24
hours. Currently, some leftover stratus is lingering across
north-central Nebraska, including the KVTN terminal, though this
cloud cover is already beginning to dissipate and should
continue to do so over the next couple of hours. Southerly winds
of 10 to 20 knots, with gusts up to 25 knots, will continue
through this afternoon and evening. A few isolated thunderstorms
may develop this afternoon into the early evening. Coverage is
expected to remain very limited, and any storms that do develop
should dissipate around sunset without impacting either
terminal. Overnight into Sunday morning, winds will weaken to 5
to 10 knots while remaining generally out of the south to
southeast. Low-level cloud cover may redevelop Sunday morning
across central and north-central Nebraska, though confidence in
any MVFR ceilings remains low at this time.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory from 10 AM to 9 PM MDT Sunday for NEZ004.
Heat Advisory from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ Sunday to 9 PM CDT /8
PM MDT/ Monday for NEZ005>010-026>029-094.
Heat Advisory from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM
MDT/ Monday for NEZ022>025-035>038-056>059-069>071.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Gomez
LONG TERM...Roberg
AVIATION...Labenz