Expires:No;;041350
FXUS63 KLBF 192347
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
647 PM CDT Fri Apr 19 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Light snow is likely south and west of North Platte tonight 
  and Saturday. No travel impacts are expected. 

- The next significant storm system could affect wrn/ncntl
  Nebraska Thursday and Friday next week. The potential for
  strong or severe thunderstorms is uncertain.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 312 PM CDT Fri Apr 19 2024

The forecast tonight through Saturday night revolves around the fate 
of an upper level disturbance moving through Colorado. The latest 
guidance suggests measureable rain and snow will remain mostly south 
and west of North Platte. The dry air associated a late season high 
pressure system from Canada should delay low level saturation in 
many areas east of Ogallala until Saturday afternoon. By then the 
best forcing or dynamics will be moving through KS, away from swrn 
Nebraska. So, the moisture will be in place for precipitation 
Saturday afternoon, but the forcing will be too weak for much more 
than sprinkles or flurries.

The POP and QPF forecast leans on the HREF, or high resolution 
ensemble forecast. This forecast generated an inch or less snow 
across parts of the srn Panhandle and swrn Nebraska.

The temperature forecast leans on the the short term model blend, 
the HRRR and RAP models which were warmer tonight than the NBM in 
many areas, and cooler in many areas Saturday. The reason for this 
is cloud cover which will block radiational cooling tonight and 
solar insolation Saturday across most areas along and south of 
highway 2.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 312 PM CDT Fri Apr 19 2024

Late season high pressure from Canada will build south and be 
located over TX/OK/KS/MO by Sunday afternoon. In response to sfc low 
pressure developing over wrn Canada, a warm front should push east 
into wrn Nebraska. 

There is not much change in the temperature forecast Sunday through 
Tuesday; highs in the 50s and 60s Sunday warm into the 60s and 70s 
Monday followed by a weak Pacific cold front Tuesday. Cool air will 
back into Wednesday.

The main weather system next week will affect wrn and ncntl Nebraska 
Thursday and Friday. The sfc low isn't particularly deep near 993 mb 
but the attendant warm front could provide excellent focus for 
thunderstorms across ncntl Nebraska Thursday aftn/evening or perhaps 
earlier. It is too early too speculate on the severe threat but 
moisture, focus and shear will be in place. If the model timing is 
correct, wrn and ncntl Nebraska will be post-frontal Friday. POPs 
for this event are 40-60 percent which could be too high west of 
highway 83 where somewhat drier air will be in place. The drier, 
slower ECM shows a strong cap ahead of the upper low, while the 
faster, wetter GFS has weakened the cap ahead of the dynamics.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 633 PM CDT Fri Apr 19 2024

Mostly VFR conditions will prevail across western and north
central Nebraska through Saturday. The exception will be across
southwest Nebraska to the south of I-80...where MVFR and some 
light precipitation will be possible late tonight into Saturday 
morning. Winds will be light, generally less than 15 kts. 

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...CDC
LONG TERM...CDC
AVIATION...Taylor