007
FXUS63 KLBF 182123
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
423 PM CDT Fri Apr 18 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Cold overnight lows, below freezing across most of north
  central and western NE

- Slight chance of rain Saturday night into Sunday, additional
chances through the week

- Breezy winds on Monday with elevated to near critical fire
weather concern

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 420 PM CDT Fri Apr 18 2025

The main concern in the short term will be the cold
temperatures overnight. Skies overnight will begin to clear across
the northern Sandhills and temperatures will dip into the low to mid
20s, with the potential for some even colder temperatures across
Cherry County where fresh snow pack from this morning`s snow still
lingers. There is a little more uncertainty with areas across
southwest and north central Nebraska how cold temperatures will drop
with cloud cover hanging on through most of the overnight across
those areas that could help keep temperatures from dipping into the
low 20s, however a few models do have cloud coverage clearing across
the southwest. Probabilities are around 45 to 50 percent that
temperatures will remain near 28 degrees or warmer across southwest
Nebraska so kept most of the southwest area around 28 or warmer with
the exception of the river valley, where temperatures were lowered a
few degrees.

An upper level low will move across the Central Plains Sunday. There
will be a slight chance of rain showers across the southeastern
portions of the forecast area, generally along a line from Imperial
to O`Neill and eastward, with the bulk of the rain remaining east
into central and eastern Nebraska.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 420 PM CDT Fri Apr 18 2025

Weak ridging will move into the Plains early in the week
with temperatures warming into the upper 60s to 70s. Min RH will
lower to around 20 to 25% will breezy winds around 10 to 15 mph and
gust up to 30 mph, with the strongest winds across western Nebraska.
This will lead to elevated to near critical fire conditions. Bufkit
NAM soundings suggest the potential for 35 to 45 kt winds to mix to
the sfc across western Nebraska so will need to continue to monitor
this as the system gets closer.


There will be slight chances for rain on Monday night and Tuesday
night with weak shortwaves that move through. A stronger system will
move through Wednesday. This will be the greatest chance for
widespread precipitation and thunderstorm chances. Pattern becomes
more active through the end of the of the week with additional
chances for showers and thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1242 PM CDT Fri Apr 18 2025

Cloudy conditions will prevail through the afternoon gradually
rising above 6000 feet by 00Z. Strong northerly winds gusting up to
25 to 30 knots will also continue through the afternoon before
diminishing after sunset. VFR conditions will then remain in place
through Saturday morning.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Gomez
LONG TERM...Gomez
AVIATION...Kulik