Severe Thunderstorm Warning 71, NWS North Platte, NE

144 
WWUS53 KLBF 092338
SVSLBF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
538 PM MDT Tue Jun 9 2026

NEC161-100000-
/O.CON.KLBF.SV.W.0071.000000T0000Z-260610T0000Z/
Sheridan NE-
538 PM MDT Tue Jun 9 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM MDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN SHERIDAN COUNTY...

At 538 PM MDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Number 4 to 8 miles south of Hay Springs, moving
northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile 
         homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

Locations impacted include...
Rushville, Hay Springs, White Clay, Clinton, Intersection of Highway
87 and Craven Creek Road, Intersection of Beaver Creek Road and White
Clay Creek Road, Intersection of Highway 87 and Larabee Road, Highway
250 crossing the Niobrara River, Walgren Lake State Recreation Area,
Mount Maria, Pine Ridge, Metcalf State Wildlife Management Area, and
Intersection of Highway 87 and Antelope Road.

This includes the following highways...
 Highway 20 between mile markers 74 and 97.
 Highway 250 between mile markers 31 and 48.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
North Platte.

&&

LAT...LON 4300 10232 4249 10237 4241 10275 4244 10275
      4244 10277 4278 10277 4279 10279 4300 10279
TIME...MOT...LOC 2338Z 240DEG 31KT 4315 10257 4257 10263 

THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...70 MPH

$$

NMJ

530 
WWUS53 KLBF 092357
SVSLBF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
557 PM MDT Tue Jun 9 2026

NEC161-100007-
/O.EXP.KLBF.SV.W.0071.000000T0000Z-260610T0000Z/
Sheridan NE-
557 PM MDT Tue Jun 9 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN SHERIDAN COUNTY
WILL EXPIRE AT 600 PM MDT...

The storms which prompted the warning have weakened below severe
limits, and no longer pose an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
North Platte.

LAT...LON 4300 10232 4249 10237 4241 10275 4244 10275
      4244 10277 4278 10277 4279 10279 4300 10279
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 245DEG 21KT 4320 10244 4262 10250 

$$

NMJ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
327 PM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected this evening
  across western Nebraska, tracking east across the region.
  While large hail and damaging wind gusts are the primary
  threats, a tornado or two may be possible for a brief period.

- Near critical to critical fire weather conditions are
  expected to last through the evening across western Nebraska.
  As thunderstorms form this afternoon and evening, there will
  be a risk for dry lightning across portions of the Panhandle
  and western Sandhills.

- Additional chances for showers and thunderstorms Wednesday
  afternoon and evening, with a chance for some storms to be
  severe. The main risks are large hail and damaging winds.

- Fire weather concerns may remain through the end of the week
  across western Nebraska, as conditions remain dry and windy.

- Temperatures are expected to cool off this weekend, with
  additional chances of showers and thunderstorms across the
  region.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 326 PM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026

A very active afternoon and evening is expected across western and
north central Nebraska today, with risks for severe weather and
critical fire weather conditions. A strengthening surface low tracks
across the Dakotas, bringing a dry line and eventually a cold front
across western Nebraska. As the dry line tracks east, it will
provide the initial catalyst for our active weather pattern.

First, ahead of the dry line, afternoon dewpoints continue to climb
into the 60s and nearing the 70s, pooling deep moisture across the
region. Strong winds aloft, as well as veering winds with height,
will provide strong deep layer shear across the region this
afternoon and evening allowing storms to organize. With the clear
skies and daytime heating, strong instability continues to build
across the region, as seen from the KLBF 18z sounding, where surface
based CAPE values already exceed 3,000 J/kg. As the dry line tracks
east, expecting storms to develop along the boundary, with an
initial supercell threat. These initial supercells will bring a risk
for large to very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and even a
possibility of a tornado. the threat for supercell tornadoes is
relatively limited in time, as storms encounter a strengthening low
level jet late this afternoon and evening. Throughout the evening,
storms are expected to grow upscale into a more linear system,
continuing the threat for damaging wind gusts, though large hail
cannot be ruled out. With the ambient low level helicity, the threat
for brief tornadoes exists along the leading edge of the line, with
the greatest threat across north central Nebraska later this
evening. With this very explosive environment in place, SPC has
maintained a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) across most of the region,
and an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) mostly along and east of Highway
83. With all severe hazards in play tonight, make sure to have
multiple ways to receive warnings and remain weather aware!

Secondly, behind the dry line, very low humidity is expected (and
with higher dewpoints to the east a very sharp gradient). As the dry
line works into western Nebraska, expect humidity values to bottom
out around 15 to 20 percent. Winds remain very gusty out of the
south, with a slight turn to westerly behind the dry line, and
northwesterly behind the cold front. Perhaps more concerningly, as
storms initiate across western Nebraska, expecting little
precipitation out of these cells initially, which will keep a threat
for dry lightning across portions of the eastern Panhandle and
western Sandhills. With all of these anticipated conditions, have
decided to keep the Red Flag Warning in effect through this evening.
Humidity recovery is expected to remain poor overnight, but much
will depend on how much the dryline retreats to the west.

As the cold front pushes through the region overnight, we get a
second push of drier air across the region. Temperatures are
expected to remain cooler tomorrow, with highs in the 80s across the
region. However, the push of dry air will bring low humidity across
the region, with afternoon humidity values of 10 to 15 percent
across most of the region along and west of Highway 83. To the east,
humidity values around 15 to 25 percent are expected. Conditions
remain very gusty out of the west and northwest behind the cold
front, with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph
especially across the western Sandhills and eastern Panhandle. This
may lead to additional near critical to critical fire weather
concerns, especially across western Nebraska. Have decided against
issuing a fire headline at this time, mainly to see how storms and
potential rainfall play out tonight.

Another potential severe weather set up develops across the region
during the evening hours on Wednesday. As the cold front remains
mostly across the eastern portions of the region, the main concerns
will be areas along and east of Highway 83. Given that the set up is
largely driven by the location of the front, the higher concerns are
for areas to the east of the area, however, should the front track
slightly slower than expected, large hail and gusty winds would be
possible with any storms that develop Wednesday evening. However, as
mentioned, much depends on the location of where the front tracks
tonight, so will continue to keep a close eye on the fine scale
features. Given the slight uncertainty, make sure to stay up to date
with the latest forecast, as subtle shifts could change the severe
risk tomorrow evening.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 326 PM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026

By Thursday, an upper level trough is expected to track across the
region. This should usher in some cooler temperatures as we head
into the weekend, with highs on Thursday expected to be in the 70s.
Conditions remain breezy on Thursday, with sustained northwest winds
of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. Humidity may be on the lower
end for Thursday, generally less than 30 percent during the
afternoon. However, there is some question on how much overlap of
lowest humidity and gusty winds will occur. With this uncertainty
still lingering, think at least elevated to near critical fire
weather conditions may exist across portions of the eastern
Panhandle, but will continue to monitor, as subtle changes in the
fine scale environment over the next few days may have a large
impact on this.

As for Friday, more zonal flow aloft is expected, with a push of
warm air advection at 850 mb. This shot of warm air advection may
bring a brief warm up of temperatures across the region, especially
across southwest Nebraska. This may push highs back into the upper
80s to lower 90s for one day. As temperatures climb again on Friday,
expecting another decrease in moisture across the region. Strong
southerly wind gusts up to 40 mph are possible, and combined with
the low humidity, may create additional fire weather concerns,
especially across western Nebraska.

Looking ahead to the weekend, another upper level trough is expected
to track into the region. Temperatures remain warmer on Saturday
ahead of a cold frontal passage, with highs still expected to climb
into the 80s. However, by Sunday and into early next week, expecting
temperatures to cool off into the 70s, as upper level troughing
remains. A somewhat active upper level pattern should provide
support for a few disturbances to bring showers and thunderstorms
across the region. Much will depend on the track of the upper level
pattern, so changes may still over the next several days.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1235 PM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail throughout most of today and
tonight across western and north central Nebraska. Winds remain
gusty out of the south to southeast this afternoon and evening. By
late afternoon and evening, strong to severe thunderstorms are
expected to develop across western Nebraska tracking east across the
region. These storms are likely to produce very gusty and erratic
winds, large hail, and potentially tornadoes. These storms may also
bring brief, localized MVFR to IFR ceilings. Have covered this with
a TEMPO group, as confidence in timing of peak severe concerns is
around medium confidence. As storms track out, expect shifting winds
from the northwest as a cold front passes. While wind gusts diminish
overnight, gusty conditions are again expected to develop by the
morning hours.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 326 PM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026

Near critical to critical fire weather conditions are expected to
persist this evening across western Nebraska, as the dry line
continues to track east. Conditions behind the dry line are expected
to drop around 15 to 20 percent, with gusty southerly winds becoming
westerly as the dry line passes. Additionally, storms initiating
along the dry line this afternoon and evening may bring a risk for
dry lightning, especially across the eastern Panhandle and western
Sandhills. Humidity recovery will largely depend on the eastern
extent of the dry line tonight, as areas remaining west of the dry
line are expected to recover to around 50 percent, with areas east
of the dry line recovering to 70 percent.

Tomorrow, as the cold front pushes the dry line further east, expect
cooler temperatures and more widespread low humidity across the
region. Most areas along and west of Highway 83 are expected to see
afternoon humidity values around 10 to 15 percent, along with wind
gusts up to 45 mph during the afternoon. This may lead to additional
near critical to critical fire weather concerns, but will hold off
on a headline for now to see how much rain is received with
tonight's storms.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for NEZ204.

&&

SHORT TERM...Richie
LONG TERM...Richie
AVIATION...Richie
FIRE WEATHER...Richie

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
330 PM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-102030-
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-
330 PM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026 /230 PM MDT Tue Jun 9 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Critical fire weather conditions are expected across the western
Sandhills and eastern Panhandle this afternoon and evening as a dry
line tracks into the region.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and into
the evening. Storms are expected to form across western Nebraska and
northeastern Colorado, tracking to the east. Damaging wind gusts,
large to very large hail, and a few tornadoes will all be possible.

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

Near critical to possibly critical fire weather concerns will be
possible Wednesday, generally for areas along and west of Highway
61. Additional fire weather concerns may return Thursday and Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed.