Chadron, Nebraska 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

820
FXUS65 KCYS 210540
AFDCYS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
1040 PM MST Fri Feb 20 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Light snow moving into the region currently and expected to be
  possible through the nighttime hours. 1 to 2 inches is
  possible for the lower elevations along I-80, with 3 to 5
  additional inches possible in the mountains.

- Temperatures also cold Saturday morning alongside breezy
  winds, but insulating cloud cover may once again prevent cold
  weather highlights despite breezy conditions.

- Next widespread high wind event expected on Tuesday,
  continuing through Friday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 220 PM MST Fri Feb 20 2026

Beginning to see light snow across the region, mainly in the
higher terrain but clouds are at least overspreading east of the
Laramie range. Moving into the evening and nighttime hours, high
resolution guidance is still expecting similar results to what
the forecast has been calling for over the past several days -
light snowfall for our southern zones along the I-80 corridor,
and generally around 0.5 - 2 inches except the mountains where 3
to 5 inches will be possible. Temperatures also had to be
tweaked, with Douglas much colder than expected by model
guidance. Overnight that could impact lows dramatically and,
combined with winds, will create very cold wind chills that
could approach cold weather advisory status. Much like last
night, anticipating that a site or two will get this cold across
the northern extent of our CWA, but not enough that it would
warrant an advisory. Quiet conditions then over the weekend as
high pressure ridging begins to take control, as we see
temperatures steadily rising. Highs on Saturday around the 30`s
to 40`s, added by clearing skies and sunshine that should be
able to assist in melting some of our snowpack. This will be
followed by widespread 40`s on Sunday with clear skies once
again, continuing to remove the snowfall across our area.
Otherwise sensible weather concerns will be nil under the benign
weather pattern, though some breezy winds are possible on
Saturday but nothing compared to what we`re used to.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 220 PM MST Fri Feb 20 2026

Sticking to the theme of this winter season, the long term period
will start out with anomalously warm temperatures, especially in
locations east of the Laramie Range with maximum temperatures
approaching 60 degrees. In fact, ensemble guidance has our Nebraska
counties with high temperatures in the mid-60s. This is all thanks
to a longwave ridge over the Mountain West, which will begin to
dampen, placing the CWA in a northwesterly flow regime.

The main story into the middle of next week will be the wind. In-
house random forest guidance has been consistent with this event,
with greater than 60% likelihood of seeing gusts exceeding 60 mph in
the high wind hot spots such as Arlington in the vicinity of the
Snowy Range. Even Cheyenne and other locations along the I-25
corridor are showing an increasing likelihood of an impactful wind
event. This will be dependent on the location of where the mountain
wave breaks in the lee of the Laramie Range, and is also seen on the
omega fields which are indicating strong subsidence. Wednesday will
feature cooler maximum temperatures (though still 5-10 degrees above
average), and yet another day of gusty winds. Winds seem to relax
slightly on Thursday before ramping back up again on Friday as we
remain in a WNW flow regime aligned with a 65-70 knot 700 mb jet.
Above-average temperatures will continue into the end of the work
week.

As for precipitation, ensemble guidance has backed off on QPF for
the the Thursday-Friday period, with the any moisture likely being
confined to the mountains. With the latest Drought Monitor
classifying much of our CWA as being in either severe or extreme
drought, the prospect of meaningful precipitation is minimal
throughout the forecast period.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1040 PM MST Fri Feb 20 2026

VFR conditions will prevail across the majority of the
terminals, except KSNY, for the duration of this TAF period.
Latest nighttime satellite imagery depicts an area of low CIGs
and BR moving into KSNY. So, expect LIFR to VLIFR CIGs and LIFR
VIS to plague KSNY for the next few hours. Winds will pose no
threat to aviation operations; however, they will begin to ramp
up overnight, west to east, and by 20Z Saturday all terminals
will see topping out in the 20-30 knot range.

&&

.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...None.
NE...None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...CG
LONG TERM...WFOCYS
AVIATION...RZ