Ogallala, Nebraska 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

996
FXUS63 KLBF 131757
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1157 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Confidence in rain today is high continuing through the evening
with some locations across north central seeing a transition to snow
after Midnight tonight.

- Dry conditions return for Wednesday through Thursday with cooler,
but still above normal temperatures.

- The next precipitation potential could impact extreme north
central Nebraska Thursday night, although confidence remains low.

- A return to dry conditions and much colder temperatures begins on
Friday lasting through the first half of the weekend before warming
back above normals by the beginning of next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 359 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Upper level ridging will remain in place across the western US
through this morning keeping mild temperatures across the region.
While temperatures will be above normal today, they will be highly
dependent on the approach of the surface trough arriving by late
afternoon. Across the north, clouds will begin to increase by late
morning as the trough approaches bringing some slightly cooler air
along with it. Therefore, highs will only rise into the mid 50s.
Further to the south, clouds will remain scattered in the morning
becoming broken to overcast during the afternoon. Therefore, fully
anticipate highs to still rise into the upper 50s to low 60s for
points south of I-80.

A weak frontal system and trough will bring a return to
precipitation to the region today and into tonight. With warmer
temperatures, the majority of the precipitation will be rain,
although, some locations in north central Nebraska could see a brief
change over to a rain/snow mix or all snow after Midnight tonight.
Little to no accumulations are expected, but some brief visibility
reductions will be possible in falling snow during the night. Rain
will push into northern Nebraska by Noon today and spread south
throughout the afternoon with much of the forecast area seeing at
least some light rain (less than a tenth of an inch). Currently not
anticipating any thunderstorms with these showers as instability
remains low with very little support for convection at this time.
Precipitation will diminish for the most part by sunrise Wednesday
morning, but some lingering light rain/snow may continue for a few
for hours across portions of the eastern Sandhills and north central
Nebraska.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 359 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Dry conditions return Wednesday through at least Thursday as surface
high pressure builds back into the Great Plains. Temperatures return
to above normal for Wednesday and Thursday, but some cooler air
behind the departing trough will keep highs only the mid 40s to mid
50s both days.

Thursday night into Friday will bring the next potential for
precipitation as an upper level low begins to develop across the
northern Plains on Thursday night. The majority of the precipitation
associated with this system will remain over to the east and over
the Great Lakes region. However, some isolated snow showers could
graze extreme north central Nebraska. Confidence still remains low
in snow development as well as strength/precipitation amounts.

This system will also bring some much colder, below normal
temperatures to the region. Current model guidance suggests 850 mb
temperatures in the -12 to -18 C range behind the departing trough
on Friday and into Saturday. This will result in highs returning
into the 30s for Friday and Saturday and lows Friday night in the
low teens and into the single digits on Saturday night. While still
a few days away, there is also indication that wind chill values
could drop into the negative single digits across portions of north
central Nebraska on Saturday night. Not anticipating cold headlines
at this time, but they may be needed if temperatures continue a
downward trend.

In addition to some light snow potential and colder temperatures,
this trough will bring some very gusty winds to north central and
western Nebraska on Friday. Latest model guidance suggests northwest
gusts up to 60 mph could be possible. Looking at the latest
probability guidance, seeing gusts over 60 mph across northern
Nebraska have around a 80 percent probability of occurring. This
only increases confidence that even higher winds will be likely.
Will be watching this closely over the next several days and if
confidence remains high, wind headlines will likely be necessary.

Upper level ridging on Friday behind the departing trough will bring
a return to dry conditions from Friday into the beginning of next
week. After temperatures remain chilly on Friday and into Saturday,
they begin a gradual warming trend back into the mid 40s to upper
50s by next Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1153 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

There will be some light rain showers moving in from the north
expanding southward through the day, however visibility impacts
will be limited. Cigs will lower through the day and could see
some MVFR conditions or lower, especially Wednesday morning.
Winds will remain breezy out of the west to northwest through
the day with sustained winds of 10 to 15 kts and gust up to 25
kts.


&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Kulik
LONG TERM...Kulik
AVIATION...Gomez