Alert archive / Nebraska / Blizzard Warnings in 2009

Blizzard Warning 2, NWS Omaha, NE

December 8, 20098 counties in Iowa; 30 counties in Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this blizzard warning at Dec 8, 2009, 12:55 PM CST for 8 counties in Iowa; 30 counties in Nebraska. It took effect at Dec 8, 2009, 9:00 PM CST. It was in force for 9 hr. 7 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Dec 8, 2009, 12:55 PM CST (18:55 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 8, 2009, 9:00 PM CST
Expired
Dec 9, 2009, 5:42 AM CST
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Omaha, NE
All 38 counties

Fremont County, IA, Harrison County, IA, Mills County, IA, Monona County, IA, Montgomery County, IA, Page County, IA, Pottawattamie County, IA, Shelby County, IA, Antelope County, NE, Boone County, NE, Burt County, NE, Butler County, NE, Cass County, NE, Cedar County, NE, Colfax County, NE, Cuming County, NE, Dodge County, NE, Douglas County, NE, Gage County, NE, Jefferson County, NE, Johnson County, NE, Knox County, NE, Lancaster County, NE, Madison County, NE, Nemaha County, NE, Otoe County, NE, Pawnee County, NE, Pierce County, NE, Platte County, NE, Richardson County, NE, Saline County, NE, Sarpy County, NE, Saunders County, NE, Seward County, NE, Stanton County, NE, Thurston County, NE, Washington County, NE, Wayne County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 16 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:55 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Dec 8, 9:03 PM CSTSNOW 8.5Tecumseh, NE8.5 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 8 AM. TOTAL SNOW DEPTH 12 INCHES ON THE GROUND.
Dec 8, 9:59 PM CSTHEAVY SNOW 12Fairbury, NEESTIMATED 12 INCHES STORM TOTAL...15 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. 4 TO 5 FOOT DRIFTS AROUND BUILDINGS. MOST COUNTY ROADS ARE BLOCKED.
Dec 8, 10:00 PM CSTHEAVY SNOW 8Norfolk, NESTORM TOTAL SO FAR.
Dec 8, 11:29 PM CSTSNOW 6.9Pawnee City, NE6.9 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE THIS MORNING. TOTAL SNOW DEPTH 13 INCHES.
Dec 8, 11:41 PM CSTSNOW 10Columbus, NEESTIMATED STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL. DRIFTS AS HIGH AS 5 FEET. COUNTY ROAD CREWS HAVE SUSPENDED CLEANUP OPERATIONS.
Dec 8, 11:53 PM CSTHEAVY SNOW 9Omaha, NE46TH AND FARNAM. DRIFTS TO 2.5 FEET.
Dec 9, 3:00 AM CSTHEAVY SNOW 103 W Pacific Junction, IADRIFTS UP TO 4 FEET. 12 INCHES TOTAL ON THE GROUND. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 16 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 2009-12-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 2009-12-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 149 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
602 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
149 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
333 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWUS43 KOAX 081855
WSWOAX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
1255 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...A DANGEROUS WINTER STORM WILL HIT THE AREA THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING AS A
VERY POWERFUL WINTER STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS THROUGH
WEDNESDAY. MODERATE SNOW WILL BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES WITH THE
HEAVIEST SNOW EXPECTED TO OCCUR THROUGH THIS EVENING. AS THE STORM
SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH THE PLAINS...NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE
CREATING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
MORNING.

IAZ079-080-090-091-NEZ065>068-078-088>093-090300-
/O.UPG.KOAX.BZ.A.0002.091209T0000Z-091209T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.091209T0300Z-091209T1800Z/
/O.EXT.KOAX.WS.W.0006.000000T0000Z-091209T0300Z/
MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GLENWOOD...RED OAK...SIDNEY...
CLARINDA...SEWARD...LINCOLN...PLATTSMOUTH...NEBRASKA CITY...
CRETE...FAIRBURY...BEATRICE...TECUMSEH...AUBURN...PAWNEE CITY...
FALLS CITY
1255 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST
WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A
BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
NOON CST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT
UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT. 

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH
  THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 10 TO 14 INCHES IS 
  EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS CLOSER TO 
  THE KANSAS BORDER. 

* WINDS/VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 MPH WITH
  GUSTS TO 40 TO 45 MPH THIS EVENING AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. THIS
  WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. BLIZZARD
  CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS HEAVY SNOW
  COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LEADS TO WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THIS COMBINATION WILL
  CREATE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING. HIGH SNOW DRIFTS ARE
  POSSIBLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO ROAD CLOSURES. THERE IS ALSO A
  POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES DUE TO THE VERY STRONG WINDS. WIND
  CHILL READINGS ON WEDNESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

IAZ043-055-056-069-NEZ015-018-030>034-042>045-050>053-090300-
/O.UPG.KOAX.BZ.A.0002.091209T0000Z-091209T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.091209T0300Z-091209T1800Z/
/O.EXT.KOAX.WS.W.0006.000000T0000Z-091209T0300Z/
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-THURSTON-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-
SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ONAWA...MISSOURI VALLEY...HARLAN...
COUNCIL BLUFFS...PENDER...WAYNE...ALBION...NORFOLK...STANTON...
WEST POINT...TEKAMAH...COLUMBUS...SCHUYLER...FREMONT...BLAIR...
DAVID CITY...WAHOO...OMAHA...BELLEVUE
1255 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST
WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A
BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
NOON CST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT
UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT. 

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH
  THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 9 TO 13 INCHES IS 
  EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS CLOSER TO 
  THE KANSAS BORDER. 

* WINDS/VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 MPH WITH
  GUSTS TO 40 TO 45 MPH THIS EVENING AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. THIS
  WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. BLIZZARD
  CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS HEAVY SNOW
  COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LEADS TO WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THIS COMBINATION WILL
  CREATE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING. HIGH SNOW DRIFTS ARE
  POSSIBLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO ROAD CLOSURES. THERE IS ALSO A
  POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES DUE TO THE VERY STRONG WINDS. WIND
  CHILL READINGS ON WEDNESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

NEZ011-012-016-017-090300-
/O.UPG.KOAX.BZ.A.0002.091209T0000Z-091209T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.091209T0300Z-091209T1800Z/
/O.EXT.KOAX.WS.W.0006.000000T0000Z-091209T0300Z/
KNOX-CEDAR-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BLOOMFIELD...HARTINGTON...NELIGH...
PIERCE
1255 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST
WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A
BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
NOON CST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT
UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT. 

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH
  THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 6 TO 9 INCHES IS EXPECTED
  THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH LESSER AMOUNTS TOWARD THE SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 MPH WITH
  GUSTS TO 40 TO 45 MPH THIS EVENING AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. THIS
  WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. BLIZZARD
  CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS HEAVY SNOW
  COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LEADS TO WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THIS COMBINATION WILL
  CREATE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING. HIGH SNOW DRIFTS ARE
  POSSIBLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO ROAD CLOSURES. THERE IS ALSO A
  POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES DUE TO THE VERY STRONG WINDS. WIND
  CHILL READINGS ON WEDNESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

DERGAN/KERN
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS43 KOAX 082342
WSWOAX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
542 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...A DANGEROUS WINTER STORM WILL THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING AS A VERY POWERFUL
WINTER STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
MODERATE SNOW WILL BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW
EXPECTED TO OCCUR THROUGH THIS EVENING. AS THE STORM SYSTEM MOVES
THROUGH THE PLAINS...NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE CREATING
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.

IAZ079-080-090-091-NEZ065>068-078-088>093-090745-
/O.CON.KOAX.WS.W.0006.000000T0000Z-091209T0300Z/
/O.CON.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.091209T0300Z-091209T1800Z/
MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GLENWOOD...RED OAK...SIDNEY...
CLARINDA...SEWARD...LINCOLN...PLATTSMOUTH...NEBRASKA CITY...
CRETE...FAIRBURY...BEATRICE...TECUMSEH...AUBURN...PAWNEE CITY...
FALLS CITY
542 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
NOON CST WEDNESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING. A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS
EVENING TO NOON CST WEDNESDAY. 

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH
  THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: THROUGH ABOUT 6 PM...SNOW AMOUNTS HAVE
  RANGED FROM 6 TO 9 INCHES. AN ADDITIONAL 6 INCHES OF SNOW IS
  POSSIBLE THROUGH THE NIGHT...BRINGING TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS FROM
  THIS STORM SYSTEM INTO THE 12 TO 15 INCH RANGE. 

* WINDS/VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 MPH WITH 
  GUSTS TO 40 TO 45 MPH THIS EVENING AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. THIS 
  WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. BLIZZARD 
  CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY. 

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS HEAVY SNOW
  COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LEADS TO WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THIS COMBINATION WILL
  CREATE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING. HIGH SNOW DRIFTS ARE
  POSSIBLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO ROAD CLOSURES. THERE IS ALSO A
  POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES DUE TO THE VERY STRONG WINDS. WIND
  CHILL READINGS ON LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY WILL DROP INTO THE
  15 TO 20 BELOW RANGE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

IAZ043-055-056-069-NEZ015-018-030>034-042>045-050>053-090745-
/O.CON.KOAX.WS.W.0006.000000T0000Z-091209T0300Z/
/O.CON.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.091209T0300Z-091209T1800Z/
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-THURSTON-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-
SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ONAWA...MISSOURI VALLEY...HARLAN...
COUNCIL BLUFFS...PENDER...WAYNE...ALBION...NORFOLK...STANTON...
WEST POINT...TEKAMAH...COLUMBUS...SCHUYLER...FREMONT...BLAIR...
DAVID CITY...WAHOO...OMAHA...BELLEVUE
542 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
NOON CST WEDNESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING. A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS
EVENING TO NOON CST WEDNESDAY. 

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH 
  THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: SNOW AMOUNTS AS OF 6 PM WERE IN THE 5 TO 8
  INCH RANGE WITH THIS STORM SYSTEM. ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 6
  INCHES WILL PUSH STORM TOTAL SNOW AMOUNTS INTO THE 9 TO 14 INCH
  RANGE.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 MPH WITH 
  GUSTS TO 40 TO 45 MPH THIS EVENING AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. THIS 
  WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. BLIZZARD 
  CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY. 

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS HEAVY SNOW
  COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LEADS TO WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THIS COMBINATION WILL
  CREATE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING. HIGH SNOW DRIFTS ARE
  POSSIBLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO ROAD CLOSURES. THERE IS ALSO A
  POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES DUE TO THE VERY STRONG WINDS. WIND
  CHILL READINGS ON LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING WILL DROP
  TO 15 TO 25 BELOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

NEZ011-012-016-017-090745-
/O.CON.KOAX.WS.W.0006.000000T0000Z-091209T0300Z/
/O.CON.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.091209T0300Z-091209T1800Z/
KNOX-CEDAR-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BLOOMFIELD...HARTINGTON...NELIGH...
PIERCE
542 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
NOON CST WEDNESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS
EVENING. A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS
EVENING TO NOON CST WEDNESDAY. 

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH 
  THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: SNOW AMOUNTS THROUGH 6 PM HAVE BEEN IN THE 3
  TO 5 INCH RANGE. ADDITIONAL SNOW AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES ARE
  EXPECTED...BRINGING THE STORM TOTAL SNOW TO 6 TO 9 INCHES.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 MPH WITH 
  GUSTS TO 40 TO 45 MPH THIS EVENING AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. THIS 
  WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. BLIZZARD 
  CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY. 

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS HEAVY SNOW
  COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LEADS TO WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THIS COMBINATION WILL
  CREATE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING. HIGH SNOW DRIFTS ARE
  POSSIBLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO ROAD CLOSURES. THERE IS ALSO A
  POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES DUE TO THE VERY STRONG WINDS. WIND
  CHILL READINGS ON LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING WILL DROP
  INTO THE 20 TO 30 BELOW RANGE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$
000 
WWUS43 KOAX 090328
WSWOAX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
928 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...A VERY DANGEROUS WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THE AREA
THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...

.BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT IN SOME AREAS ACROSS
EASTERN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN RURAL
AREAS. A VERY POWERFUL WINTER STORM SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE
PLAINS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY SNOW
TO PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA...BUT
TAPERING FROM WEST TO EAST BY DAY BREAK WEDNESDAY. WINDS WILL ALSO
INCREASE TO 35 TO 45 MPH WHICH WILL CREATE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS IN
SOME AREAS.

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-091130-
/O.EXP.KOAX.WS.W.0006.000000T0000Z-091209T0300Z/
/O.CON.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-091209T1800Z/
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-
PAGE-KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-
SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ONAWA...MISSOURI VALLEY...HARLAN...
COUNCIL BLUFFS...GLENWOOD...RED OAK...SIDNEY...CLARINDA...
BLOOMFIELD...HARTINGTON...PENDER...NELIGH...PIERCE...WAYNE...
ALBION...NORFOLK...STANTON...WEST POINT...TEKAMAH...COLUMBUS...
SCHUYLER...FREMONT...BLAIR...DAVID CITY...WAHOO...OMAHA...
BELLEVUE...SEWARD...LINCOLN...PLATTSMOUTH...NEBRASKA CITY...
CRETE...FAIRBURY...BEATRICE...TECUMSEH...AUBURN...PAWNEE CITY...
FALLS CITY
928 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST WEDNESDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A BLIZZARD
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST WEDNESDAY. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
  THROUGH PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA
  OVERNIGHT. STORM TOTAL SNOW AMOUNTS WILL RANGE AROUND 6 INCHES
  ACROSS NORTHEAST NEBRASKA...TO 9 TO 14 INCHES ACROSS PARTS OF
  SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA.

* WIND AND VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE
  TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 TO 45 MPH LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY
  MORNING. THIS WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING
  SNOW. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY ESPECIALLY IN RURAL OPEN AREAS.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS HEAVY SNOW
  COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LEADS TO WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. THIS COMBINATION
  WILL CREATE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. HIGH SNOW
  DRIFTS ARE POSSIBLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO ROAD CLOSURES...AND SOME
  LOCAL ROAD CREWS HAVE SUSPENDED CLEANUP OPERATIONS UNTIL THE
  STORM HAS ENDED. THERE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES
  DUE TO THE VERY STRONG WINDS. WIND CHILL READINGS LATE TONIGHT
  AND WEDNESDAY MORNING WILL DROP TO 15 TO 25 BELOW ZERO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE IMMINENT. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$
000 
WWUS43 KOAX 090921
WSWOAX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
321 AM CST WED DEC 9 2009

...A VERY DANGEROUS WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THE AREA
THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...

.BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS CONTINUE THIS MORNING ACROSS EASTERN
NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN RURAL AREAS.
NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING UP TO 40 TO 50 MPH ARE CREATING GROUND
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...WITH VISIBILITY OF A QUARTER MILE OR
LESS...PARTICULARLY WHEN TRAVELING ON ROADWAYS IN OPEN AREAS.
LITTLE ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED...BUT THE STRONG WINDS AND
FRESH SNOWFALL WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW CONDITIONS
THROUGH THE MORNING.

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-091800-
/O.CON.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-091209T1800Z/
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-
PAGE-KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-
SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ONAWA...MISSOURI VALLEY...HARLAN...
COUNCIL BLUFFS...GLENWOOD...RED OAK...SIDNEY...CLARINDA...
BLOOMFIELD...HARTINGTON...PENDER...NELIGH...PIERCE...WAYNE...
ALBION...NORFOLK...STANTON...WEST POINT...TEKAMAH...COLUMBUS...
SCHUYLER...FREMONT...BLAIR...DAVID CITY...WAHOO...OMAHA...
BELLEVUE...SEWARD...LINCOLN...PLATTSMOUTH...NEBRASKA CITY...
CRETE...FAIRBURY...BEATRICE...TECUMSEH...AUBURN...PAWNEE CITY...
FALLS CITY
321 AM CST WED DEC 9 2009

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE
  MINIMAL...WITH 6 TO 12 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL REPORTED
  ACROSS THE AREA.

* WIND AND VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 30 TO 35 MPH WITH
  GUSTS TO 40 TO 50 MPH WILL CONTINUE INTO THE MORNING HOURS. THIS
  WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. BLIZZARD
  CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY...ESPECIALLY IN RURAL OPEN AREAS. STRONG
  WINDS WILL ALSO CREATE WIND CHILLS OF 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO THIS
  MORNING. VISIBILITIES WILL BEGIN TO IMPROVE BY LATE MORNING AS
  WIND SPEEDS DECREASE.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS WHITEOUT
  CONDITIONS CONTINUE THIS MORNING. SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND
  DRIFTING SNOW IS OCCURRING...WITH DRIFTS OF 2 TO 4 FEET ACROSS
  ROADWAYS. ROAD CLEAN-UP WILL BE HAMPERED BY THE CONTINUED
  BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW THIS MORNING. THOSE WHO MUST VENTURE
  OUTSIDE SHOULD PREPARE FOR DANGEROUSLY COLD WEATHER AS WELL AS
  DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE IMMINENT. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

MAYES
000 
WWUS43 KOAX 091142
WSWOAX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
542 AM CST WED DEC 9 2009

...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE ENDING...BUT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
CONTINUES...

.AS THE WINTER STORM SYSTEM MOVES AWAY TO THE EAST...ACCUMULATING
SNOW IS ENDING ACROSS THE AREA. NORTHWEST WINDS CONTINUE TO GUST
TO AROUND 35 TO 45 MPH...BUT WIND SPEEDS WILL DECREASE THROUGH THE
DAY. THE STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE BLOWING AND
DRIFTING OF THE FRESHLY FALLEN SNOW THROUGHOUT THE DAY...CREATING
TREACHEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. WIND CHILL READINGS OF 10 TO 20
BELOW ZERO ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-091945-
/O.CAN.KOAX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-091209T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KOAX.WW.Y.0017.091209T1142Z-091209T2200Z/
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-
PAGE-KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-
SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ONAWA...MISSOURI VALLEY...HARLAN...
COUNCIL BLUFFS...GLENWOOD...RED OAK...SIDNEY...CLARINDA...
BLOOMFIELD...HARTINGTON...PENDER...NELIGH...PIERCE...WAYNE...
ALBION...NORFOLK...STANTON...WEST POINT...TEKAMAH...COLUMBUS...
SCHUYLER...FREMONT...BLAIR...DAVID CITY...WAHOO...OMAHA...
BELLEVUE...SEWARD...LINCOLN...PLATTSMOUTH...NEBRASKA CITY...
CRETE...FAIRBURY...BEATRICE...TECUMSEH...AUBURN...PAWNEE CITY...
FALLS CITY
542 AM CST WED DEC 9 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW AND WIND CHILLS...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON. THE BLIZZARD WARNING HAS
BEEN CANCELLED.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: LITTLE OR NO ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION IS
  EXPECTED.

* WIND AND VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 35 TO 45
  MPH WILL CONTINUE INTO THE MORNING HOURS...DECREASING TO AROUND
  25 TO 35 MPH THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE
  BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS.
  VISIBILITIES MAY ALSO BE REDUCED TO A MILE OR LESS IN AREAS.
  STRONG WINDS WILL ALSO CREATE WIND CHILLS OF 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO
  THIS MORNING.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL REMAIN TREACHEROUS TODAY. SIGNIFICANT
  BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IS OCCURRING...WITH DRIFTS OF 2 TO 4
  FEET ACROSS ROADWAYS. ROAD CLEAN-UP WILL BE HAMPERED BY THE
  CONTINUED BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW THIS MORNING. THOSE WHO MUST
  VENTURE OUTSIDE SHOULD PREPARE FOR DANGEROUSLY COLD WEATHER AS
  WELL AS POOR AND RAPIDLY CHANGING ROAD CONDITIONS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO STRONG WINDS BLOWING SNOW
AROUND. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS.

&&

$$

MAYES

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this blizzard warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this blizzard warning went out at Dec 8, 10:17 AM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 8, 10:17 AM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
1017 AM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

.UPDATE...

ONGOING WINTER STORM CONTINUES AND PREVIOUS FORECAST LOOKS TO BE
IN GREAT SHAPE FOR TODAY.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

WATER VAPOR IMAGERY FEATURES POTENT MID/UPPER TROUGH TRANSITIONING
EAST ACROSS THE WESTERN CONUS WITH 100-120M HEIGHT FALLS OVER THE
FOUR CORNERS REGION OFF THE 12Z 500MB UPPER AIR ANALYSIS. IN
ADDITION...12Z UPPER AIR ANALYSIS SHOWED A 140KT 300MB JET MAX ROUNDING
THE BASE OF THE TROUGH. AT 850MB...DEWPOINTS AROUND 10-13C WERE
MOVING UP FROM THE GULF ACROSS ERN TX INTO EASTERN
OKLAHOMA/ARKANSAS PROVIDING VERY GOOD MOISTURE TO WORK INTO THIS SYSTEM.
REGIONAL RADAR MOSAICS ALONG WITH SFC OBS INDICATE BANDS OF
MODERATE SNOW PUSHING NORTHEAST OUT OF KANSAS AND ACROSS MUCH OF
SOUTHERN NEBRASKA. LATEST 15Z SUBJECTIVE SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS LOW
OVER WEST-CENTRAL COLORADO WITH BEST PRESSURE FALLS ACROSS OK/KS
WHERE SFC LOW IS EXPECTED TO QUICKLY TRANSITION TOWARD THRU THE
DAY.

SHORT TERM 12Z NAM/RUC IN ACCORDANCE WITH 09Z SREF GUIDANCE
IMPLIES CONTINUED SNOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA AS 850MB WAA
CONTINUES WITH STRONG ISENTROPIC LIFT BEST AROUND THE 290K SFC.
MODELS SUGGEST AN INCREASINGLY FAVORABLE COMBINATION OF LIFT
COINCIDENT WITH A SATURATED DENDRITIC LAYER ROUGHLY BETWEEN
650-500MB ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SUGGESTS
THAT MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON WITH
PERHAPS 1 IN/HR RATES QUITE LIKELY...ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF I-80
CORRIDOR. TO THE NORTH OF THIS...CONTINUED LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW
WL CONTINUE IN BROAD AREA OF ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE THROUGHOUT THE
EARLY AFTERNOON. VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS LATE THIS MORNING AND
DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON WL MAINLY BE DUE TO FALLING SNOW AS SFC
WINDS OF AROUND 10KTS SHOULD NOT CAUSE TOO MUCH TROUBLE WITH
BLOWING AND DRIFTING...YET. WIND WILL BE A PROBLEM LATER THIS
AFTERNOON AND CERTAINLY THIS EVENING AS THEY INCREASE TO NEAR 30
MPH THIS EVENING WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH AS THE SFC LOW PASSES TO THE
SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA.

FORECAST STILL ON TRACK WITH UPPER/MID LEVEL TROUGH AXIS MOVING
INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS BY 00Z WED WHILE SFC LOW RAPIDLY MOVES
ACROSS KS/OK AND INTO MO BY THIS SAME TIME. BLIZZARD WATCH IS
CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THIS EVENING THRU WED MORNING AND WL MAKE
A DECISION ON WHAT TO DO WITH THIS HEADLINE THIS AFTERNOON AS WE
CONTINUE TO ANALYZE NEW MODEL DATA.

KERN

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 421 AM CST TUE DEC 8 2009/

DISCUSSION...

IMPENDING WINTER STORM MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE AND FOCUS THIS CYCLE.

POST 06Z WATER VAPOR STLT IMAGERY SHOWED STRONG DRYING OR
SUBSIDENCE ALONG BASE OF SW U.S. UPPER TROUGH PUNCHING ACROSS SRN
AZ WHICH EARLIER KICKED OFF A FEW LTG STRIKES NEAR PHX. SYSTEM HAD
100 M HGT FALLS AT 500 MB LAST EVENING AT VBG. 00Z GFS/NAM/ECMWF
SIMILARLY FORECAST THIS HGT FALL CENTER TO TRACK FROM SRN KS VCNTY
AT 00Z WED INTO IL/IN REGION BY 12Z WED WITH FALLS FCST TO
INCREASE FM 150-180 M TO 250 M OR MORE DURING THAT TIME. THIS IN
TURN WILL REALLY TIGHTEN UP SFC GRADIENT WHICH WILL HAVE A LARGE
TEMPERATURE GRADIENT TO WORK WITH NOTED BY CURRENT TEMPS BELOW
ZERO OVR NW WY INTO WRN ND AND 40S OVR AR. BESIDES HGT FALL TRACK
00Z MODELS HAD GENERALLY VERY GOOD AGREEMENT IN 700/850 MB TRACK
AND QPF PLACEMENT. TRACK OF 850 MB/SFC LOW AND CLIMATOLOGICALLY
FAVORED 1000-500 MB THICKNESS WOULD INDICATE HIGHEST STORM TOTALS
FROM SYSTEM WOULD BE MOSTLY S OF THE I80 CORRIDOR. HOWEVER...WIND
FIELD FORECAST FM 3 MODELS AT 700 MB SHOWED A SECONDARY CIRC
CENTER FARTHER N THAN PROGD 700 MB LOW...POSSIBLY AIDING IN HIGHER
QPF TOTALS FARTHER NW. CROSS SECTIONS FM NW TO SE INDICATED DECENT
LIFT THRU AROUND 00Z WED NW AND THRU AROUND 06Z SE BUT THETA SFCS
WEREN/T THAT SLOPED INDICATING LTL CSI. ALSO WITH EQUIVALENT POT
VORT FCST TO REMAIN ABOVE ZERO AND BETTER TROWAL SEEMINGLY SETTING UP
FARTHER E. SO TO SUM IT UP...NEGATIVES INCLUDED HGT FALLS/SYSTEM
CLOSING OFF AND SFC LOW DEEPENING ALL APPEAR TO BE BETTER TO OUR E
WITH PCPN AMOUNTS NOT REALLY ENHANCED BY UPRIGHT OR SLANTWISE
INSTABILITY...WITH POSITIVES INCLUDING PROLONGED LIFT WHICH WILL
BE REALLY EFFICIENT IN PRODUCING SNOW AS MOST TEMPS IN 850-700 MB
LAYER WERE AND WL REMAIN IN DENDRITIC ZONE.

USING A MID TO UPPER TEEN LIQUID TO SNOW RATIO AND MODEL QPF
WOULD PLACE 10-18 INCHES OF NEW SNOW...AFT 12Z TUE...OVER MOST OF THE
CWA. HOWEVER...FEEL MODELS MAY BE OVERDOING QPF A BIT GIVEN LACK
OF TIGHTER SFC/850 MB CIRCULATION WON/T BE AVAILABLE TO PULL IN
BETTER MOISTURE UNTIL SYSTEM BEGINS MOVING NEAR ERN FRINGES OF THE
CWA. USING FCST SPECIFIC HUMIDITY VALUES OF 3-4 G/KG SE AND 1-2 NW AND
ACCOUNTING FOR LIFT PD WOULD PUT NEW...POST 12Z...SNOW AMOUNTS OF
AROUND 4 INCHES FAR NW TO 10-12 INCHES ACROSS FAR SE AND GENERALLY
WENT WITH THOSE NUMBERS. WINDS START INCREASING NW TO SE LATER
THIS AFTN BUT ESPECIALLY AS SNOW BEGINS MOVG OFF TO THE EAST
TONIGHT. WITH FRESH/POWDERY SNOW VSBYS WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED AND
MAY APPROACH OR REACH BLIZZARD CRITERIA. HOWEVER...WITH 850-925 MB
WINDS FORECAST TO BE BELOW 50 KTS OVR THE CWA...DON/T FEEL
CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN PROLONGED BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO UPGRADE
BLIZZARD WATCH TO WARNING ATTM. WITH FORECAST SNOW AMOUNTS AND
WIND THOUGH SEE NO REASON TO CHANGE WINTER STORM WARNING HEADLINES
ALL ZONES FROM TODAY THRU WED MORNING...ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS ACROSS
THE N PROBABLY WON/T DETERIORATE UNTIL LATER THIS AFTN.

WITH FRESH SNOW AND GIVEN UPSTREAM TEMPS TRIMMED TEMPS BACK A BIT
NW WED MORNING AND MOST AREAS THU/FRI MORNING. ATTM APPEARS WINDS
WILL DECOUPLE THE MOST FRI MORNING WITH MODELS STILL FORECASTING A
BIT OF A WIND THU MORNING BUT WITH 850 MB TEMPS COLDER ATTM.

OTHER THAN ABOVE MENTIONED TEMP ADJUSTMENTS NO CHANGES MADE TO
REST OF FORECAST.

CHERMOK

AVIATION...
TAF SITES KOFK/KOMA/KLNK

06Z TAFS

AFTER INTERMITTENT MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS THIS MRNG AT ALL
SITES...VIS/CIGS WILL DETERIORATE TO IFR/LIFR IN THE LATE MRNG...AND
WILL REMAIN RESTRICTED FOR THE REST OF THE TAF CYCLE.  WINDS
INITIALLY FROM THE EAST AT AROUND 5-10 KT WILL VEER TO NERLY BY 00Z
AND TO NWLY BY AROUND 06Z...WITH SPEEDS INCREASING THROUGH THE
EVENING TO AROUND 15-25KT GUSTING TO AROUND 35KT.

MAYES

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST WEDNESDAY FOR NEZ011-012-
     015>018-030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093.

     BLIZZARD WATCH FROM 6 PM CST THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
     MORNING FOR NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-042>045-050>053-
     065>068-078-088>093.

IA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST WEDNESDAY FOR IAZ043-055-056-
     069-079-080-090-091.

     BLIZZARD WATCH FROM 6 PM CST THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
     MORNING FOR IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091.

&&

KERN
Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 8, 12:04 PM CST, 51 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
1204 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-090815-
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-
PAGE-KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-
SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
1204 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
IOWA...WEST CENTRAL IOWA...EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA...NORTHEAST
NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND
CONTINUE OVERNIGHT OVER ALL OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST
IOWA. THIS WILL CREATE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.

SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON
WITH SOME ONE INCH PER HOUR SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE SOUTH
OF INTERSTATE 80. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES ARE EXPECTED
ACROSS THE REGION...WITH SOME HEAVIER AMOUNTS CLOSER TO THE KANSAS
BORDER AND LIGHTER AMOUNTS CLOSER TO THE SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER.
WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL CREATE
SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT
TO CREATE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS.

TEMPERATURES WILL FALL TONIGHT INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS BELOW TO
SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE ZERO. THE COMBINATION OF COLD TEMPERATURES AND
STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE WIND CHILLS OF 15 TO 25 BELOW ZERO. THE
COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND COLD WIND CHILLS
WILL CREATE TREACHEROUS OUTDOORS CONDITIONS THROUGH TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF AROUND SUNRISE ON WEDNESDAY
MORNING...HOWEVER BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE AS STRONG NORTHWEST
WINDS LINGER. ALSO...WIND CHILL READINGS OF 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO
WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DAY.

WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO FALL TO 15 TO 25 BELOW ZERO AGAIN ON
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW ZERO...EVEN THOUGH WIND
SPEEDS WILL DECREASE TO 5 TO 15 MPH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 2
INCHES...INCLUDING STORM TOTAL SNOW AFTER SNOWFALL HAS ENDED...TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA.

KERN

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 8, 10:23 AM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1023 AM CST TUE DEC 08 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1021 AM     SNOW             FAIRBURY                40.14N 97.18W
12/08/2009  M4.5 INCH        JEFFERSON          NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NEW SNOW SINCE MONDAY EVENING. SOME BLOWING SNOW ALSO
            REPORTED...WITH MODERATE SNOW OCCURRING.

&&

VDEWALD
Local storm report, Dec 8, 11:00 AM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1100 AM CST TUE DEC 08 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1100 AM     SNOW             6 W NORFOLK             42.03N 97.54W
12/08/2009  E4.0 INCH        MADISON            NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ABOUT 4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE LATE LAST NIGHT.

&&

VDEWALD
Local storm report, Dec 8, 11:46 AM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1146 AM CST TUE DEC 08 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1144 AM     SNOW             LITTLE SIOUX            41.81N 96.03W
12/08/2009  M5.0 INCH        HARRISON           IA   CO-OP OBSERVER

            2.8 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE MIDNIGHT. 5 INCHES OF SNOW
            ON THE GROUND.

&&

VDEWALD
Local storm report, Dec 8, 12:03 PM CST, 52 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1203 PM CST TUE DEC 08 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 PM     SNOW             FREMONT                 41.44N 96.49W
12/08/2009  M3.5 INCH        DODGE              NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3.5 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE YESTERDAY EVENING. 2.5
            INCHES SINCE 7 AM.

1200 PM     SNOW             VALLEY                  41.31N 96.35W
12/08/2009  M5.5 INCH        DOUGLAS            NE   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            2 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 6 AM. 5.5 INCHES SNOW DEPTH.

&&

VDEWALD
Local storm report, Dec 8, 12:06 PM CST, 49 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1206 PM CST TUE DEC 08 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 PM     SNOW             4 W NORFOLK             42.03N 97.50W
12/08/2009  M5.0 INCH        MADISON            NE   CO-OP OBSERVER

            2 INCHES SINCE 6 AM. 5 INCHES SNOW DEPTH.

1200 PM     SNOW             OMAHA                   41.26N 96.01W
12/08/2009  M5.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            NE   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            AT OMAHA EPPLEY. 1.9 INCHES SINCE 6 AM. 5 INCHES SNOW
            DEPTH.

&&

VDEWALD
Local storm report, Dec 8, 12:44 PM CST, 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NEBRASKA
1244 PM CST TUE DEC 08 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1243 PM     SNOW             RISING CITY             41.20N 97.30W
12/08/2009  M5.0 INCH        BUTLER             NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE YESTERDAY EVENING. 5 INCHES
            SNOW DEPTH.

&&

VDEWALD

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in Nebraska, 2009Blizzard Warnings in Iowa, 2009Every blizzard warning in 2009

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.