Winter Storm Watch 8, NWS North Platte, NE

Arthur County, NE, Blaine County, NE, Boyd County, NE, Brown County, NE, Chase County, NE, Cherry County, NE, Custer County, NE, Deuel County, NE, Frontier County, NE, Garden County, NE, Garfield County, NE, Grant County, NE, Hayes County, NE, Holt County, NE, Hooker County, NE, Keith County, NE, Keya Paha County, NE, Lincoln County, NE, Logan County, NE, Loup County, NE, McPherson County, NE, Perkins County, NE, Rock County, NE, Sheridan County, NE, Thomas County, NE, Wheeler County, NE

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1244 PM CDT Tue Apr 10 2018

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 319 AM CDT Tue Apr 10 2018

Models in fair agreement with sensible weather and have good
confidence in near term solutions. Surface high pressure centered
over southeast Nebraska early this morning. Light southerly flow
over western Nebraska in return flow. Mostly clear skies today.
Forecast area in northwest flow aloft with weak waves moving through
the northwest flow. These will be responsible for increased cloud
cover from the northwest tonight. Highs today with good insolation
and downslope flow as the upper ridge builds east will be in the
upper 60s to around 70. 850mb temperatures at 9C to 13C. With
increasing high clouds west tonight temperatures will remain above
normal with winds out of the west southwest. Lows tonight around
40.

.LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday)
Issued at 319 AM CDT Tue Apr 10 2018

Upper level ridging and surface high pressure will continue across
the western US on Wednesday and Thursday. Dry weather and warmer
temperatures will continue to surge into the region. Expect high
temperatures on Wednesday to easily rise into the 70s with locations
across the south reaching the lower 80s. On Thursday, temperatures
will remain warm, however, slightly cooler than Wednesday. Highs
only rise into the mid 60s (north of Highway 2) to mid 70s (south of
Highway 2).

Active weather returns on Friday as a low pressure system develops
and then moves across the central Plains. Ahead of the low, strong
northwest winds will develop. Gusts up to 35 to 45 mph are possible
Friday night and early Saturday. In addition to strong winds,
precipitation will move into the area. Precipitation will remain
mostly rain across the south with the north seeing mostly snow.
Locations along the South Dakota border have the potential to see
significant accumulations. Confidence in snow totals is very low at
this time. This system is still several days out and the track and
snow amounts will likely change over the course of the week. Will
hold off on mentioning concrete snowfall ranges until we get a
better handle on this storm.

Cooler temperatures arrive on Friday as well with highs only in the
30s and 40s. Temperatures remain in the low to mid 30s on Saturday.
High pressure builds back into the region on Sunday with dry weather
returning as well as a warmer airmass. High temperatures for Sunday
return to the low 40s to mid 50s and Monday highs will be slightly
warmer in the mid 40s to upper 50s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon)
Issued at 1237 PM CDT Tue Apr 10 2018

VFR conditions can be expected the next 24 hrs across all of
western and north central Nebraska. Do expect some mid and high
level cloudiness, but no lower clouds are forecast. Winds will be
from the west this afternoon, light south tonight, then locally
gusty from the west Wednesday afternoon.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 319 AM CDT Tue Apr 10 2018

Warming temperatures over western Nebraska combined with lower rh's
around 20 percent will set the stage for increased fire weather
concerns over southwest Nebraska on Wednesday.

Downslope winds will continue on Wednesday as the upper ridge shifts
east. Warm dry air will advect into western Nebraska with rh's
falling into the 15 to 20 percent range Wednesday afternoon. Fire
zones 210 and 219 over southwest Nebraska are likely to meet red
flag criteria. Continue fire weather watch.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday
evening for NEZ210-219.

&&

SHORT TERM...Power
LONG TERM...Kulik
AVIATION...Taylor
FIRE WEATHER...Power

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
435 AM CDT Tue Apr 10 2018

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-110945-
Sheridan-Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Boyd-Brown-Rock-Holt-Garden-
Grant-Hooker-Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Garfield-Wheeler-Arthur-McPherson-
Logan-Custer-Deuel-Keith-Perkins-Lincoln-Chase-Hayes-Frontier-
Western Cherry-
435 AM CDT Tue Apr 10 2018 /335 AM MDT Tue Apr 10 2018/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and
north central Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

There is a threat for large range fire spread across portions of
southwest Nebraska Wednesday afternoon and evening. A fire
weather watch continues for parts of southwest Nebraska Wednesday
as breezy winds combine with abnormally warm temperatures and low
afternoon humidity.

Strong northwesterly winds will develop behind an exiting cold
front Friday, peaking in the afternoon, and these winds will
persist into Saturday with gusts up to 45 mph possible. Travel
may be difficult for lightweight or high profile vehicles.

Light accumulating snow is possible across northern Nebraska and
parts of the Sandhills Friday to Saturday. The highest amounts
are expected towards the South Dakota border with 2-5 inches
possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.

&&

Get your weather, hydrological, and climate information at
http://www.weather.gov/northplatte

power