Severe Thunderstorm Warning 172, NWS North Platte, NE

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
701 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered thunderstorms this evening and overnight. Some
  storms could be strong to severe with large hail, damaging
  winds, and locally heavy rainfall.

- Isolated thunderstorms Wednesday evening and overnight. A few
  of these storms could be strong to severe with large hail and
  damaging winds.

- A threat for thunderstorms Thursday through Saturday. A few
  strong to severe storms possible Thursday. The severe threat
  remains uncertain Friday and Saturday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 247 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

This evening and overnight...Surface low pressure will deepen across
Colorado and southeast Wyoming by early evening. Dewpoints recover
into the mid 50s to near 60 by mid evening. A warm front across
southwest into central Nebraska early evening will lift north
into northern Nebraska by late evening. A mid level disturbance
from eastern Colorado and western Kansas early evening will lift
northeast during the evening and overnight. Scattered
thunderstorm development is expected across portions of western
and north central Nebraska. With a strong southerly low level
jet expected to develop south of the surface front, this will
aid in sustaining storms into much of the overnight hours. With
ample instability and deep layer shear remaining in place, a
threat for large hail and damaging winds are possible across
much of the area. Western and north central Nebraska is covered
with a Slight Risk of severe storms for areas south of a Lisco
through Valentine line. Recent runs of the HRRR focus
thunderstorms along a corridor from Ogallala through Bassett,
while the 3km NAM develops a wider swath north of Ogallala
through Bartlett. Locally heavy rainfall is possible where
thunderstorms focus and train across the same locations. WPC has
a Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall across the Sandhills
tonight. Other storms are still possible across the remainder of
southwest Nebraska this evening, though coverage looks more
isolated.

Wednesday and Wednesday night...A weak surface trough across the
area will keep winds light and variable. Surface low pressure
will again deepen across eastern Colorado through early evening.
A weak disturbance will move from New Mexico into eastern
CO/western KS by late Wed. aftn, then more into nctrl KS/sctrl
NE. Ample moisture and instability will be present ahead of the
disturbance. Guidance solutions vary widely on if and how much
convection may form. The CAMS remain very limited on
development, with isolated coverage expected. Any storms that do
develop would likely become strong to severe and pose a threat
for large hail and damaging winds.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 247 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

Late Thursday afternoon and evening, a shortwave trough will move
across the Northern Plains. An MCS is shown to develop across South
Dakota and may move across north central Nebraska during the
evening. This is where a Slight Risk for severe storms exists (south
Dakota into portions of north central and northeast NE). Damaging
wind would be the primary threat, with isolated large hail
possible. Other storms may develop off the higher terrain to our
west and move across southwest and central NE, though coverage
and severe threat is more uncertain.

The upper flow becomes more zonal Friday and Friday night. Storm
chances are best across north central Nebraska, where a warm front
is forecast to locate near the NE/SD border.

Highs from the upper 80s to low 90s Thursday and Friday.

Looking into Saturday (Independence Day), the upper flow remains
fairly zonal across the Northern and Central Plains. Thunderstorm
chances increase Saturday afternoon and evening. Upper ridging
returns to the region Sunday through Tuesday, with the potential for
thunderstorms limited due to weaker flow in the mid and upper levels
and warmer temperatures aloft.

Highs Saturday and Sunday in the mid to upper 80s warm back into the
upper 80s to low 90s Monday and Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 701 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

Thunderstorms are expected across the region tonight, however,
conditions are mostly expected to remain VFR based on ceilings. The
main concerns with any storms this evening will be gusty and erratic
winds, including potentially severe wind gusts. As storms exit the
region, clouds remain overnight, with mostly light winds slowly
shifting to westerly by morning and northwesterly by mid morning.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Roberg
LONG TERM...Roberg
AVIATION...Richie

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
350 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-012100-
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-
350 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026 /250 PM MDT Tue Jun 30 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are possible this evening and overnight
across much of western and north central Nebraska. A few storms
could be strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds as the
primary hazards.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Additional thunderstorms are possible both Wednesday and Thursday
across all of western and north central Nebraka. A few storms could
be strong to severe both days, with large hail and damaging winds as
the primary hazards.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.