Red Flag Warning 20, NWS North Platte, NE

979 
WWUS83 KLBF 031924
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
224 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

NEZ210-219-040100-
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260404T0100Z/
Frenchman Basin-Loess Plains-
224 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026 /124 PM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS FOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire 
  Weather Zone 219 Loess Plains.

* TIMING...Through 8 PM CDT (7 PM MDT) this evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 to 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 62.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts will spread rapidly and be difficult 
  to control.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
617 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Rain/snow chances increase tonight into Friday across
  northwest and northern Nebraska.

- Elevated fire weather concerns return to southwest Nebraska
  Friday and Saturday.

- Elevated to near critical fire weather concerns possible
  Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 334 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

A potent closed low is forecast to track from the northern Rockies
into the Northern Plains Friday into Friday night. Mid-level warm
air advection is increasing ahead of this feature across western
Nebraska this afternoon. Steepening low-level lapse rates are also
occurring across western Nebraska where full sunshine has been
observed today. Weak instability is noted across the Panhandle early
this afternoon as well as about 500 J/KG of DCAPE. Have started to
see the development of cumulus and expecting scattered showers to
develop late this afternoon and spread into western Nebraska this
evening. Gusty winds and sporadic lightning will be the concern as
the activity moves quickly east-northeastward. Appears there will be
rainfall with the showers, so not overly concerned about dry
lightning, but cannot be completely rule it out.

As the system crosses SD on Friday, showers are expected to continue
across northern Nebraska as moisture wraps back around on the west
and south side of the low. A strong cold front will cross the area
with precipitation changing snow from northwest to southeast from
late morning into the afternoon. Some wet snow accumulation is
expected, especially in the higher elevation of the Pine Ridge,
where up to around 1" is expected.

Another concern will be the elevated fire weather concerns across
southwest Nebraska. Gusty northwest winds, mild temperatures,
and low-humidity will create these conditions. Far southwest
Nebraska did receive nearly 1/2" of rain last night into early
this morning. Areas to the east though toward Hayes Center and
Curtis received very little rainfall. Will monitor for any
potential higher fire concerns, east of where the wetting
rainfall occurred.

Windy conditions are expected Saturday in the wake of the system.
Northwest gusts, greater than 45 mph, are likely across western
Nebraska where boundary layer mixing will be better due a decrease
in cloud cover. Again there is potential for fire weather concerns
across southwest Nebraska and will continue to monitor.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 334 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

An upper level ridge starts to make its way into the region Sunday
morning, aiding to warmer temperatures to start the new week. Highs
are forecasted to reach the upper 50s to upper 60s Sunday. There is
some elevated fire weather concerns in west-central and southwest NE
with the warmer temperatures and humidities in the upper teens
to low 20s, but the potential of gusty winds in this area
remains low at this time.

There's a slight cooldown Monday with near normal highs in the upper
40s to upper 50s, but Tuesday returns to the warming trend with
highs in the upper 50s to upper 60s. There remains slight chance of
precipitation both Monday and Tuesday with PoPs peaking at 25
percent Tuesday morning. Confidence remains low at this time for any
measurable precipitation during those two days.

Tuesday and especially Wednesday could bring about some elevated to
near critical fire weather concerns. Ensemble guidance currently has
a 50 to 70 percent chance of greater than 30 mph gusts in north-
central NE. This overlaps with a region of low humidities in the mid
20s. Wednesday looks to be the peak of these warm, dry conditions
lining up for when the upper ridge builds in. Highs that day will be
in the low to upper 70s (10 to 15 degrees above normal) with a
chance to crest 80 in far southwest NE. Humidities will drop to the
mid teens to low 20s across much of the region, with a moderate
chance (30 - 50 percent) of 30 - 40 mph gusts overlapping across
north-central NE. We will continue to monitor and refine the
forecast for if any headlines should be warranted.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 616 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Isolated to widely scattered rain showers will drift across the
eastern Panhandle and northwestern Sandhills tonight. This
activity will eventually spread to the east-northeast across
north central Nebraska, impacting mainly the KVTN terminal. Fog
is expected to develop along and east of a KANW to KBBW line
overnight and is expected to remain east of the KLBF and KVTN
terminals. Visibility may periodically reach 2 to 5 miles at
times for the KVTN terminal overnight into Friday morning with
light rain and IFR ceilings possible. For the KLBF terminal,
expect mainly VFR conditions through 10z Friday with cloud
decks lowering to MVFR levels toward 12z Friday. Ceilings will
range form 1000 to 1500 FT AGL Friday morning, lifting to 6000
FT AGL by late morning.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Taylor
LONG TERM...MRS
AVIATION...Buttler

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
250 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-032000-
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-
250 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 /150 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms may lead to locally
gusty winds and sporadic lightning across portions of western and
northwest Nebraska this evening and tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Light snow is possible across the Pine Ridge in northern Sheridan
County and portions of far northern Nebraska Friday night. Any
accumulations are expected to remain one inch or less, with the
highest amounts along the Pine Ridge.

Elevated fire weather conditions are possible Friday and Saturday
across southwest Nebraska as gusty winds combine with low humidity.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.