FNUS53 KLBF 081926 FWFLBF Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Western and North Central Nebraska National Weather Service North Platte NE 226 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .DISCUSSION... Fire weather concerns will likely remain low over the next few days. Daytime highs will remain near to slightly above normal, but increased low-level moisture will keep minimum relative humidity values above 25 to 30 percent across the area. Rainfall chances will increase tonight and again tomorrow night, with spotty wetting rainfall possible, particularly across central into eastern Nebraska. Warmer temperatures will return by late weekend, with highs climbing into the 90s and potentially approaching 100 degrees in some locations. This heat looks to coincide with a drier pattern and is expected to continue into early next week. Winds will also increase, with model guidance suggesting gusts exceeding 30 mph across much of the western zones by Sunday afternoon. Gusty winds will persist into Monday, when gusts approaching 40 mph are becoming increasingly probable, especially west of Highway 83. The combination of hot temperatures, drier conditions, and increasing winds will likely result in greater fire weather concerns by early next week. However, confidence remains lower regarding the magnitude and spatial extent of the threat, and details will continue to be refined over the next several forecast cycles. The heat will likely persist through the middle of next week before the strong upper-level ridge begins to break down during the latter half of next week. NEZ204-091030- Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR- 126 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .TONIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Min temperature.....59-64. 24 hr trend......1 degree cooler. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......10 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......Northeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-7300 ft AGL until 2400, then 500-800 ft AGL. Transport winds.....East around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...40 percent. .THURSDAY... Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms early in the afternoon. Chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Max temperature.....82-87. 24 hr trend......1 degree cooler. Min humidity........46 percent. 24 hr trend......5 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......Southeast 5 to 15 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Good. Mixing height.......500-3000 ft AGL until 1200, then 3700-6300 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Southeast 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunder...30 percent. .THURSDAY NIGHT... Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Min temperature.....56-61. 24 hr trend......1 degree cooler. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......Unchanged. 20-foot winds.......South 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-5400 ft AGL until 2400, then 400-1000 ft AGL. Transport winds.....South 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunder...50 percent. .FRIDAY... Sky/weather.........Partly sunny then becoming sunny. Max temperature.....81-86. 24 hr trend......1 degree warmer. Min humidity........36 percent. 24 hr trend......11 percent drier. 20-foot winds.......South 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Good. Mixing height.......400-3100 ft AGL until 1200, then 3300-6300 ft AGL. Transport winds.....South around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...0 percent. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7... .SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 60. Highs around 90. South winds 5 to 15 mph. .SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 10 to 20 mph. .MONDAY...Breezy. Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 15 to 25 mph. .TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the mid 90s. .WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. $$ NEZ210-091030- Frenchman Basin- 126 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .TONIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms until early morning. Min temperature.....60-65. 24 hr trend......Unchanged. Max humidity........98 percent. 24 hr trend......Unchanged. 20-foot winds.......Northeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-7200 ft AGL until 2400, then 400-1000 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Northeast around 15 mph. Chance of thunder...50 percent. .THURSDAY... Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Max temperature.....Around 88. 24 hr trend......5 degrees cooler. Min humidity........46 percent. 24 hr trend......11 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......Northeast around 5 mph shifting to the southeast in the afternoon. Smoke dispersal.....Fair. Mixing height.......400-2900 ft AGL until 1200, then 3300-5200 ft AGL. Transport winds.....East around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...10 percent. .THURSDAY NIGHT... Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Min temperature.....58-63. 24 hr trend......3 degrees cooler. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......3 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......East 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-4300 ft AGL until 2400, then 400-800 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Southeast 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunder...50 percent. .FRIDAY... Sky/weather.........Partly sunny then becoming sunny. Max temperature.....Around 86. 24 hr trend......2 degrees cooler. Min humidity........46 percent. 24 hr trend......Unchanged. 20-foot winds.......Southeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Fair. Mixing height.......400-2700 ft AGL until 1200, then 3200-5000 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Southeast around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...0 percent. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7... .SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. .SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs around 90. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. .MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. .TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. .WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. $$ NEZ206-091030- Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest- 226 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .TONIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Min temperature.....60-65. 24 hr trend......7 degrees cooler. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......16 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......Northeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-6100 ft AGL until 2400, then 500-900 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Northeast around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...30 percent. .THURSDAY... Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny. Max temperature.....83-88. 24 hr trend......2 degrees cooler. Min humidity........40 percent. 24 hr trend......3 percent drier. 20-foot winds.......East 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Fair. Mixing height.......500-3100 ft AGL until 1200, then 3400-6100 ft AGL. Transport winds.....East around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...0 percent. .THURSDAY NIGHT... Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Min temperature.....59-64. 24 hr trend......Unchanged. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......3 percent drier. 20-foot winds.......South 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-5600 ft AGL until 2400, then 400-900 ft AGL. Transport winds.....South around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...30 percent. .FRIDAY... Sky/weather.........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms through the day. Max temperature.....84-89. 24 hr trend......1 degree cooler. Min humidity........37 percent. 24 hr trend......3 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......South 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Good. Mixing height.......400-2900 ft AGL until 1200, then 3200-6100 ft AGL. Transport winds.....South around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...20 percent. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7... .SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs around 90. South winds 10 to 15 mph. .SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 15 mph. .MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 10 to 20 mph. .TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the mid 90s. .WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. $$ NEZ219-091030- Loess Plains- 226 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .TONIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Min temperature.....Around 65. 24 hr trend......4 degrees cooler. Max humidity........99 percent. 24 hr trend......16 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......Northeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-7100 ft AGL until 2400, then 500-1000 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Northeast 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunder...50 percent. .THURSDAY... Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny. Max temperature.....Around 88. 24 hr trend......6 degrees cooler. Min humidity........43 percent. 24 hr trend......8 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......Northeast 5 to 10 mph shifting to the southeast in the afternoon. Smoke dispersal.....Fair. Mixing height.......400-3000 ft AGL until 1200, then 3200-5500 ft AGL. Transport winds.....East around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...0 percent. .THURSDAY NIGHT... Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Min temperature.....Around 63. 24 hr trend......3 degrees cooler. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......3 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......East 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-4500 ft AGL until 2400, then 400-600 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Southeast around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...50 percent. .FRIDAY... Sky/weather.........Partly sunny then becoming sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Max temperature.....Around 86. 24 hr trend......2 degrees cooler. Min humidity........45 percent. 24 hr trend......1 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......East 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Fair. Mixing height.......400-2500 ft AGL until 1200, then 2900-4200 ft AGL. Transport winds.....East around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...10 percent. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7... .SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. .SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs around 90. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. .MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. .TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. .WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. $$ NEZ208-091030- Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest- 226 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .TONIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers late in the night. Min temperature.....59-64. 24 hr trend......7 degrees cooler. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......13 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......Northeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-5400 ft AGL until 2400, then 400-600 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Northeast around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...0 percent. .THURSDAY... Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny. Max temperature.....85-90. 24 hr trend......Unchanged. Min humidity........38 percent. 24 hr trend......12 percent drier. 20-foot winds.......East 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Fair. Mixing height.......400-3200 ft AGL until 1200, then 3700-6400 ft AGL. Transport winds.....East 5 to 10 mph. Chance of thunder...0 percent. .THURSDAY NIGHT... Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the late evening and overnight. Min temperature.....60-65. 24 hr trend......1 degree warmer. Max humidity........98 percent. 24 hr trend......3 percent drier. 20-foot winds.......Southeast up to 5 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-5900 ft AGL until 2400, then 400-900 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Southeast around 10 mph shifting to the south after midnight. Chance of thunder...20 percent. .FRIDAY... Sky/weather.........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Chance of showers in the afternoon. Slight chance of thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Max temperature.....87-92. 24 hr trend......2 degrees warmer. Min humidity........36 percent. 24 hr trend......Unchanged. 20-foot winds.......South 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Good. Mixing height.......400-3200 ft AGL until 1200, then 3800-6800 ft AGL. Transport winds.....South 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunder...20 percent. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7... .SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. .SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 5 to 15 mph. .MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 10 to 20 mph. .TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 70. Highs in the upper 90s. .WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the mid 90s. $$ NEZ209-091030- Loup Rivers Basin- 226 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026 .TONIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Min temperature.....Around 63. 24 hr trend......4 degrees cooler. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......16 percent wetter. 20-foot winds.......Northeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-5100 ft AGL until 2400, then 500-600 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Northeast around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...20 percent. .THURSDAY... Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny. Max temperature.....Around 86. 24 hr trend......2 degrees cooler. Min humidity........40 percent. 24 hr trend......7 percent drier. 20-foot winds.......Northeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Fair. Mixing height.......500-3100 ft AGL until 1200, then 3200-6100 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Northeast around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...0 percent. .THURSDAY NIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight, then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms early in the morning. Min temperature.....Around 64. 24 hr trend......1 degree cooler. Max humidity........100 percent. 24 hr trend......3 percent drier. 20-foot winds.......Southeast up to 5 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. Mixing height.......500-5800 ft AGL until 2400, then 400-500 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Southeast around 10 mph. Chance of thunder...10 percent. .FRIDAY... Sky/weather.........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers in the morning. Slight chance of thunderstorms through the day. Chance of showers in the afternoon. Max temperature.....83-88. 24 hr trend......2 degrees cooler. Min humidity........43 percent. 24 hr trend......Unchanged. 20-foot winds.......Southeast 5 to 10 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Fair. Mixing height.......400-3100 ft AGL until 1200, then 3300-5500 ft AGL. Transport winds.....Southeast 5 to 10 mph. Chance of thunder...20 percent. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7... .SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. .SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs around 90. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. .MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 10 to 20 mph. .TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. .WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. $$