Area forecast discussion National Weather Service North Platte NE 1217 am CDT sun may 19 2013 Synopsis... issued at 235 PM CDT Sat may 18 2013 At 500 mb upper trough over The Rockies and ridging into Great Lakes. At the surface surface low over northwest Kansas with inverted trough into central South Dakota and dry line from eastern Colorado through the Texas Panhandle. && Update... issued at 948 PM CDT Sat may 18 2013 Only isolated showers and thunderstorms continue behind the line of thunderstorms that went across western Nebraska this evening. The forecast has been updated to reflect the decreased chances of thunderstorms and to clear a large part of the tornado watches. && Short term...(this evening through sunday) issued at 235 PM CDT Sat may 18 2013 thunderstorms expected through much of the night across western and north central Nebraska. Initial round of storms expected to develop/move northeast from southwest Nebraska...through central and into north central Nebraska. Backed surface winds to the southeast are expected across most of southwest Nebraska...with speeds increasing just off the surface early this evening. The time frame from 600 PM CDT to 900 PM CDT looks to be the most favorable for tornado development across southwest Nebraska. In addition to the tornado threat...very large hail...possible baseball size or larger...is expected. Storms will likely merge early this evening into a complex as they advance northeast toward central and north central Nebraska. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats from the complex. After this initial round...additional elevated thunderstorms are possible just about anywhere across western and north central Nebraska. These will be the result of a strengthening low level jet and continued large scale ascent. Models not in very good agreement Sunday...and this is not a surprise due to the large amount of convection expected tonight. Basically a large upper level low will slowly migrate east across the Central Plains Sunday and beyond. Convection will likely dictate the actual location of the feature. For now it appears it may be in or very near the forecast area Sunday...so higher probability of precipitation will be maintained. There could be some stronger storms along the cold front that will be located in central Nebraska during the late afternoon. Long term...(sunday night through saturday) issued at 235 PM CDT Sat may 18 2013 Models have some problems with handling of 500 mb low for the next several days but still all in all with subtle differences wide spread precipitation expected for most of western and north central Nebraska through Wednesday. This will bring concerns for hydrology. Severe weather focus over north central Nebraska on Sunday east of a line from Ainsworth to Broken Bow. NAM fastest and driest model and outlier from ec and GFS. Have trended more towards the ec and GFS slower solution. Models have warmed some in the extended with +6c at 850mb by 12z Wednesday and then a gradual increase through the end of the period. Next system moves into western Nebraska Thursday into Saturday. Have retained slight chances. && Aviation...(for the 06z tafs through 06z Sunday night) issued at 1215 am CDT sun may 19 2013 A few thunderstorms continue over southwest Nebraska. The storm in north central Nebraska had moved out of northern Nebraska. Low level moisture remaining in the wake of the storms will bring at least a slight chance of patchy fog and some marginal ceilings. Thunderstorms are again possible Sunday after 15z as a front GOES through Nebraska. && Lbf watches/warnings/advisories... none. && $$ Update...Springer synopsis...power short term...Taylor long term...power aviation...Springer