032
FNUS53 KLBF 171002
FWFLBF
FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR WESTERN
AND NORTH CENTRAL FOR NEBRASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
402 AM CST SAT JAN 17 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM MST
THIS AFTERNOON...
DISCUSSION
DESPITE COLD TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON,
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN AND
SOUTHWESTERN NEBRASKA THIS AFTERNOON. OVERNIGHT HUMIDITY RECOVERY
HAS BEEN QUITE POOR AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT, WITH PEAK RECOVERY TO
AROUND 55 PERCENT ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. THIS AFTERNOON, VERY
DRY AIR WILL DROP RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES INTO THE LOW TEENS.
SUSTAINED NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS UP TO
40 MPH. AS SUCH, HAVE KEPT THE RED FLAG WARNING ACROSS FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 204 AND 210 THIS AFTERNOON.
OVERNIGHT HUMIDITY RECOVERY IS AGAIN EXPECTED TO BE POOR TONIGHT
INTO SUNDAY, AGAIN RECOVERING TO AROUND 55 PERCENT ACROSS
SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. SLIGHTLY WARMER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS
SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA SUNDAY AFTERNOON, WITH HIGHS REACHING THE MID
TO UPPER 40S. WHILE AFTERNOON HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO DROP AROUND
30 PERCENT, WINDS REMAIN GUSTY AGAIN ON SUNDAY. WINDS ON SUNDAY
ARE EXPECTED TO SUSTAIN AROUND 30 TO 35 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH
SPORADIC GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. THIS MAY LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FIRE
WEATHER CONCERNS SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
HIGHLY VARIABLE TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED THIS WEEK, DRIVEN BY AN
ACTIVE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN. HOWEVER, FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS RETURN
AGAIN ON TUESDAY, AS HIGHS ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE 50S
ACROSS THE REGION. THESE WARMER TEMPERATURES MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY
GUSTY WINDS AND LOWER HUMIDITY VALUES. BEYOND TUESDAY, A MOSTLY
DRY FORECAST IS EXPECTED WITH VARIABLE TEMPERATURES.
NEZ204-180030-
EASTERN PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR-
302 AM MST SAT JAN 17 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM MST
THIS AFTERNOON...
TODAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....23-28.
24 HR TREND......2 DEGREES COOLER.
MIN HUMIDITY........14 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......13 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......BREEZY. NORTH 15 TO 25 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....VERY GOOD.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1800-4100 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTH AROUND 35 MPH BECOMING NORTHWEST AROUND
25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
TONIGHT
SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....13-18.
24 HR TREND......14 DEGREES WARMER.
MAX HUMIDITY........70 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......3 PERCENT WETTER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WEST 5 TO 10 MPH INCREASING TO 10 TO 20 MPH
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR.
MIXING HEIGHT.......400-1500 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST AROUND 15 MPH INCREASING TO NORTHWEST
AROUND 30 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
SUNDAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....38-43.
24 HR TREND......10 DEGREES WARMER.
MIN HUMIDITY........34 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......25 PERCENT WETTER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WINDY. NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....EXCELLENT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......800-4600 FT AGL UNTIL 1200, THEN 3400-6000 FT
AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST AROUND 35 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 45
MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 9. HIGHS
IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
TUESDAY
WARMER. PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 14. HIGHS IN THE
LOWER 50S. WEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
WEDNESDAY
COLDER. MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 16. HIGHS IN THE
MID 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
THURSDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S.
FRIDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS AROUND 10.
HIGHS AROUND 30.
NEZ210-180030-
FRENCHMAN BASIN-
302 AM MST SAT JAN 17 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM MST
THIS AFTERNOON...
TODAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....22-27.
24 HR TREND......12 DEGREES COOLER.
MIN HUMIDITY........16 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......UNCHANGED.
20-FOOT WINDS.......NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....VERY GOOD.
MIXING HEIGHT.......2600-4700 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST 30 TO 35 MPH.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
TONIGHT
SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....9-14.
24 HR TREND......3 DEGREES WARMER.
MAX HUMIDITY........58 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......5 PERCENT WETTER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WEST 5 TO 15 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR.
MIXING HEIGHT.......400-1300 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST AROUND 10 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 25 MPH
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
SUNDAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....44-49.
24 HR TREND......24 DEGREES WARMER.
MIN HUMIDITY........29 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......10 PERCENT WETTER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......BREEZY. NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....EXCELLENT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......700-6200 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST AROUND 30 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 40
MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 12. HIGHS
IN THE UPPER 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
TUESDAY
WARMER. MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 14. HIGHS IN THE MID
50S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY
COLDER. PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 17. HIGHS AROUND
40. NORTH WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
THURSDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 12. HIGHS IN THE UPPER
30S.
FRIDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 12. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.
NEZ206-180030-
SANDHILLS/VALENTINE NWR/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST-
402 AM CST SAT JAN 17 2026
TODAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....17-22.
24 HR TREND......9 DEGREES COOLER.
MIN HUMIDITY........22 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......24 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....EXCELLENT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......2300-4900 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTH AROUND 35 MPH BECOMING NORTHWEST AROUND
25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
TONIGHT
SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....8-13.
24 HR TREND......8 DEGREES WARMER.
MAX HUMIDITY........76 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......9 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WEST 5 TO 15 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR.
MIXING HEIGHT.......500-1900 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST AROUND 15 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 25 MPH
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
SUNDAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....37-42.
24 HR TREND......17 DEGREES WARMER.
MIN HUMIDITY........34 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......8 PERCENT WETTER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WINDY. NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....EXCELLENT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......900-4900 FT AGL UNTIL 1200, THEN 4300-6100 FT
AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST AROUND 35 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 45
MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 7. HIGHS
IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
TUESDAY
WARMER. PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 12. HIGHS IN THE
LOWER 50S. WEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
WEDNESDAY
COLDER. MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 16. HIGHS IN THE
MID 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
THURSDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S.
FRIDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS AROUND 10.
HIGHS AROUND 30.
NEZ219-180030-
LOESS PLAINS-
402 AM CST SAT JAN 17 2026
TODAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....18-23.
24 HR TREND......13 DEGREES COOLER.
MIN HUMIDITY........23 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......3 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....VERY GOOD.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1400-5000 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTH AROUND 35 MPH BECOMING NORTHWEST AROUND
25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
TONIGHT
SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....5-10.
24 HR TREND......2 DEGREES COOLER.
MAX HUMIDITY........63 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......7 PERCENT WETTER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......SOUTHWEST 5 TO 15 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR.
MIXING HEIGHT.......400-900 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST AROUND 10 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 20 MPH
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
SUNDAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....43-48.
24 HR TREND......24 DEGREES WARMER.
MIN HUMIDITY........29 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......5 PERCENT WETTER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......BREEZY. NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....EXCELLENT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......600-5000 FT AGL UNTIL 1200, THEN 2900-6500 FT
AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST AROUND 25 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 40
MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 9. HIGHS
IN THE UPPER 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
TUESDAY
WARMER. MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 11. HIGHS IN THE MID
50S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY
COLDER. PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 16. HIGHS AROUND
40. NORTH WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
THURSDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 11. HIGHS IN THE UPPER
30S.
FRIDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 12. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.
NEZ208-180030-
NIOBRARA VALLEY/FORT NIOBRARA NWR/SAMUEL R MCKELVIE NATIONAL
FOREST-
402 AM CST SAT JAN 17 2026
TODAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY. PATCHY BLOWING SNOW IN THE
MORNING.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....16-21.
24 HR TREND......17 DEGREES COOLER.
MIN HUMIDITY........27 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......8 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....VERY GOOD.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1600-4000 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST AROUND 35 MPH DECREASING TO AROUND 25
MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
TONIGHT
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....7-12.
24 HR TREND......7 DEGREES WARMER.
MAX HUMIDITY........82 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......6 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WEST 5 TO 15 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR.
MIXING HEIGHT.......400-1500 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST AROUND 15 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 25 MPH
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
SUNDAY
SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE
AFTERNOON.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....32-37.
24 HR TREND......21 DEGREES WARMER.
MIN HUMIDITY........38 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......10 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WINDY. NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....EXCELLENT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1100-4800 FT AGL UNTIL 1200, THEN 4100-5600 FT
AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST AROUND 35 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 45
MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
COLDER. PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND
3. HIGHS IN THE MID 20S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
TUESDAY
NOT AS COOL. MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 9. HIGHS IN
THE MID 40S. WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY
COLDER. MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 16. HIGHS IN THE
LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
THURSDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 9. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S.
FRIDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS AROUND 8.
HIGHS IN THE MID 20S.
NEZ209-180030-
LOUP RIVERS BASIN-
402 AM CST SAT JAN 17 2026
TODAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY THEN BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY.
PATCHY BLOWING SNOW EARLY IN THE MORNING.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....13-18.
24 HR TREND......15 DEGREES COOLER.
MIN HUMIDITY........36 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......1 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....VERY GOOD.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1500-4200 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTH AROUND 35 MPH BECOMING NORTHWEST AROUND
25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
TONIGHT
SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....4-9.
24 HR TREND......5 DEGREES WARMER.
MAX HUMIDITY........79 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......6 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WEST 5 TO 15 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR.
MIXING HEIGHT.......400-1800 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST AROUND 10 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 20 MPH
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
SUNDAY
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....36-41.
24 HR TREND......25 DEGREES WARMER.
MIN HUMIDITY........32 PERCENT.
24 HR TREND......20 PERCENT DRIER.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WINDY. NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....EXCELLENT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......800-5100 FT AGL UNTIL 1200, THEN 4000-6200 FT
AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST AROUND 35 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 45
MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
CHANCE OF THUNDER...0 PERCENT.
FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
COLDER. PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND
5. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
TUESDAY
NOT AS COOL. PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 9. HIGHS IN
THE UPPER 40S. WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY
COLDER. MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 17. HIGHS IN THE
MID 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
THURSDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10. HIGHS IN THE LOWER
30S.
FRIDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS AROUND 11.
HIGHS AROUND 30.
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