FXUS63 KLBF 031739 AFDLBF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service North Platte NE 1139 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Patchy fog will be possible once again this morning across portions of north central into central Nebraska - Mild temperatures will continue through the week into the weekend - Thursday will be the warmest day of the week with widespread 50s and 60s - Light precipitation chances this afternoon through early Wednesday && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 404 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026 Did increase high temperatures for today, generally across western and southwest Nebraska, along with the Sandhills. Probabilistic models suggest at least a 50 percent or better of seeing highs reach the mid 50s or warmer across western NE. Did keep temperatures cooler across north central Nebraska, where low clouds will linger through much of the day keeping temperatures cooler. There will also be a chance for fog again tonight across portions of north central Nebraska. Fog development will remain patchy, thus a dense fog advisory will not be needed, however there could be some locations where visibility drops to 1/4 mile at times. As for precipitation today, a disturbance will move in this afternoon increasing chances for precipitation from west to east through the day into the evening and overnight. Precipitation type through the afternoon and mid evening, will generally be light rain showers. Then as temperatures cool this evening, a transition from rain to snow showers will be possible, with the greatest potential for changeover to snow, generally around midnight and later. Widespread moisture is not expected, in fact qpf values will remain fairly light with only a few hundredths expected, with the highest values and the greatest potential for precipitation across the northern Sandhills. As for snowfall amounts, only trace amounts expected. Precipitation will likely be in the form of rain showers, transitioning to snow showers overnight. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... Issued at 404 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026 The upper level ridge will continue to build across the western CONUS with northwest flow over the area. Thursday continues to be the warmest day of the week and EFI continues to increase with confidence increasing in the potential of seeing some extreme temperatures on Thursday. The current forecast has mid to upper 60s but with forecast trending towards extreme temperatures could need to boost highs for Thursday, this will be nearing record temperatures, see climate section for more information on record highs. Along with the warmer temperatures on Thursday, will also need to monitor the increase for fire weather potential, winds will be breezy Thursday with sustained winds around 15 to 20 mph and gust up to 30 mph, combined with dry conditions could lead to elevated fire weather concerns for Thursday afternoon. The ridge will slowly move eastward through the week, keeping mild temperatures through the weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1139 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026 A bank of stratus clouds, oriented from KVTN to KTIF and just northeast of KLBF will gradually lift this afternoon. However ceilings within this band of cloudiness will range from 500 to 1000 FT AGL. Low level stratus will re-develop tonight and will make it as far west as a line from 50W of KVTN to 20NE of North Platte. Ceilings tonight in this stratus will range from 500 to 1000 FT AGL. Low level clouds will persist overnight tonight through Wednesday morning. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 404 AM CST Tue Feb 3 2026 Temperatures continue to trend warmer for Thursday and will be nearing record highs on Thursday for North Platte, BrokenBow and Valentine. The current forecast has high temperatures in the mid to upper 60s across western and southwest Nebraska and in the low to mid 60s across the Sandhills. Here are the record highs for the four climate sites along with the forecast high temperature for Thursday. ...........Forecast High.....Record High................ North Platte....66 degrees...69 degrees(1904) Broken Bow......65 degrees...66 degrees(2009) Valentine.......64 degrees...68 degrees(1963) Imperial........66 degrees...74 degrees(1904) && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Gomez LONG TERM...Gomez AVIATION...Buttler CLIMATE...Gomez