A Beautiful Friday, Then Much Colder Saturday

Highs reached will into the 50’s across Greater Nebraska today, with North Platte reaching the 60 degree mark, and with sunshine it was an outstanding December afternoon weather-wise. And we will enjoy one more beautiful day before arctic air returns this weekend.

High pressure to our west over Colorado and Wyoming produced west to northwest winds that warmed quickly east of the mountains, and this allowed highs to reach the mid 50’s as far north as South Dakota. This high will control our weather through Friday, and we can expect mostly clear skies tonight with lows only dropping into the 20’s with light and variable winds.

We may see a few more clouds Friday than we did today, especially during the afternoon as the arctic front begin to approach, but temperatures should still reach the 50’s to near 60 with a southwesterly breeze.

But the arctic front will move southward through Greater Nebraska overnight Friday, and it may produce some light rain early which will change to light snow as lows drop into the teens. Also, a low pressure strengthens to our east over Iowa, gusty northwesterly winds to 35mph will make it feel colder.

Any light snow should end Saturday morning, with little if any accumulation expected, then partly sunny skies will develop. However, highs may remain steady or even fall a bit in the afternoon, staying in the teens north to perhaps near 30 over the extreme southwest. Winds will remain very gusty out of the northwest, producing low wind chills.

Saturday night will remain blustery and cold with lows in the single digits and teens with mostly clear skies.

Then Sunday will be partly sunny and not as windy, but still cold with highs in the 30’s.

Expect another warm-up early next week with highs in the 40’s and 50’s, before it turns colder again for late next week as our see-saw temperature pattern continues.

Mike