Winter Storm Warning 9, NWS North Platte, NE

931 
WWUS43 KLBF 260909
WSWLBF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
309 AM CST Tue Dec 26 2023

NEZ007-010-028-029-270115-
/O.CAN.KLBF.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-231227T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KLBF.WW.Y.0023.231226T0909Z-231227T1200Z/
Boyd-Holt-Garfield-Wheeler-
Including the cities of Spencer, Butte, Lynch, O'Neill, Atkinson,
Burwell, Bartlett, and Ericson
309 AM CST Tue Dec 26 2023

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...Mixed precipitation. Additional snow accumulations of 
  up to two inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze.

* WHERE...Boyd, Holt, Garfield and Wheeler Counties.

* WHEN...Until 6 AM CST Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

Call Nebraska 511 for the latest road information.

&&

$$

NEZ005-006-008-009-025>027-037-038-059-070-071-270115-
/O.NEW.KLBF.WW.Y.0023.231227T0000Z-231227T1200Z/
/O.EXT.KLBF.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-231227T0000Z/
Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Brown-Rock-Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Logan-
Custer-Lincoln-Hayes-Frontier-
Including the cities of Valentine, Springview, Ainsworth, 
Bassett, Rose, Thedford, Halsey, Dunning, Purdum, Brewster, 
Taylor, Stapleton, Broken Bow, North Platte, Hayes Center, 
Curtis, Eustis, and Maywood
309 AM CST Tue Dec 26 2023

...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO
6 AM CST WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...For the Blizzard Warning, blizzard conditions. 
  Additional snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice 
  accumulations of a light glaze. Winds gusting as high as 45 
  mph. For the Winter Weather Advisory, snow expected. Total 
  snow accumulations of up to one inch. Winds gusting as high as 
  35 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of central, north central, southwest and west 
  central Nebraska.

* WHEN...For the Blizzard Warning, until 6 PM CST this evening. 
  For the Winter Weather Advisory, from 6 PM this evening to 6 
  AM CST Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Gusty 
  winds could bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must
travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded,
stay with your vehicle. 

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

Call Nebraska 511 for the latest road information.

&&

$$

NEZ004-022>024-035-036-056>058-069-094-270115-
/O.CON.KLBF.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-231227T1200Z/
Sheridan-Garden-Grant-Hooker-Arthur-McPherson-Deuel-Keith-Perkins-
Chase-Western Cherry-
Including the cities of Gordon, Rushville, Oshkosh, Lewellen, 
Hyannis, Mullen, Arthur, Tryon, Ringgold, Chappell, Big Springs, 
Ogallala, Paxton, Grant, Champion, Enders, Imperial, Wauneta, 
Cody, Eli, Merriman, and Kilgore
309 AM CST Tue Dec 26 2023 /209 AM MST Tue Dec 26 2023/

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST /5 AM MST/
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 3 
  to 5 inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze. Winds 
  gusting as high as 55 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of north central, panhandle, southwest and 
  west central Nebraska.

* WHEN...Until 6 AM CST /5 AM MST/ Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Gusty 
  winds could bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must
travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded,
stay with your vehicle. 

Call Nebraska 511 for the latest road information.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
http://weather.gov/lbf

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
556 PM CST Mon Dec 25 2023

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Impactful snowfall will occur through Wednesday where up to 6 to
  12 inches are possible, highest amounts across northern Nebraska.

* Blizzard conditions are expected through Tuesday night as
  northwesterly wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph reduce visibility and
  lead to blowing and drifting snow.

* Snow ends by Wednesday afternoon, but strong winds continue into
  Wednesday night keeping blizzard conditions around even after the
  snowfall has ended.

* Quieter weather arrives for Wednesday night through the end of
  the week, however, temperatures remain cooler for most
  locations due to recent snowpack.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 249 PM CST Mon Dec 25 2023

Ongoing winter weather will be the main story in the short term. A
developing low pressure system across the Great Plains will continue
to deepen across eastern Nebraska and impact the region through
Wednesday.

While the majority of the forecast remains on track, some changes
have been made during this issuance. Overall trends of heaviest
snowfall will still remain across northern and north central
Nebraska, however, snowfall totals have decreased just a little as
well as shifted westward. Across the north, expect to still see up
to 12 inches, with the heaviest amounts across Brown, Rock, and Keya
Paha counties. Amounts gradually decrease to the south, with the
exception of some terrain influenced heavier bands just south of the
Platte/South Platte rivers, Niobrara river, and also across the Pine
Ridge region. Here, locally up to 10 to 12 inches could be seen.
Elsewhere, up to 4 to 7 inches are expected. Greatest potential for
the heaviest snowfall will likely be between 6pm and Midnight CT
tonight where snowfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour is possible.
Those traveling tonight should be prepared for rapidly changing snow
amounts over a short distance as well as reduced visibility due to
intense snowfall rates.

There has also been an increase in freezing rain/wintry mix
potential across north central Nebraska this evening and through
Monday morning. While any ice accumulations look to be under a tenth
(0.10) of an inch, this mix will cut down on snow totals slightly.
While ice amounts are not terribly high, this in combination with
already fallen snow, will lead to increased slippery conditions
across area roadways.

Current model trends continue to show increasing winds across
the region although, overall peak wind gusts have lowered
slightly as compared to previous forecasts. Northwest wind gusts
of up to 35 to 45 mph (locally higher gusts) will peak between
6pm CT tonight and Noon CT on Tuesday. These gusts combined with
falling snow will result in blizzard conditions across all of
north central Nebraska as well as blowing and drifting snow and
reduced visibilities through much of the time period. It's
important to note, these blizzard conditions will continue even
after snowfall has ended as stronger winds (gusts up to 30 mph)
continue into Wednesday night.

Temperatures throughout the short term will also pose an additional
threat across the region. While air temperatures tonight will remain
in the 15 to 20 degree range, these colder lows combined with strong
northwesterly winds will drop wind chills into the 5 below zero to
zero degree range, especially across areas that saw some decent
snowfall already. Tuesday night lows will rise into the 20 to 25
degree range for most locations bringing wind chills back into the
positive teens.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 249 PM CST Mon Dec 25 2023

Snow begins to diminish Wednesday morning completely pushing out by
Wednesday afternoon. Some lingering snowfall may result in some
minor additional accumulations (0.5 inch or less) across northern
Nebraska and into north central Nebraska. As previously mentioned,
stronger winds will continue through Wednesday night. Best
estimation is that northwest winds will remain at or above 30 mph
through Wednesday night before diminishing. This will result in
prolonged impacts from the winter storm as blowing and drifting snow
continues as well as reduced visibility. However, despite overnight
lows dropping back into the 15 to 20 degree range, the lessening of
winds will reduce the wind chill effects across the region. Wind
chill values will only drop into the 0 to 5 above zero range for
Wednesday night.

As surface high pressure begins to build into the region on
Thursday, drier conditions return through the end of the week.
Recent snowpack and slightly cooler air will keep high temperatures
in the mid 20s to mid 30s through next Saturday, though. Slightly
warmer temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s will persist across
the western areas where limited snowfall is occurred.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 551 PM CST Mon Dec 25 2023

IFR to LIFR conditions expected tonight into Tuesday as both
cigs and vis are reduced from the falling and blowing snowfall.
Winds will remain strong out of the northwest tonight into
Tuesday with gust of 35 kts or greater possible. Snow intensity
will start to taper by afternoon, but blowing snow will continue
to keep visibility low.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Blizzard Warning until 6 AM CST /5 AM MST/ Wednesday for
NEZ004>010-023>029-035>038-057>059-069>071-094.
Blizzard Warning until 5 AM MST Wednesday for NEZ022-056.

&&

SHORT TERM...Kulik
LONG TERM...Kulik
AVIATION...Gomez

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
820 PM CST Mon Dec 25 2023

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-270230-
Sheridan-Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Boyd-Brown-Rock-Holt-Garden-Grant-
Hooker-Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Garfield-Wheeler-Arthur-McPherson-Logan-
Custer-Deuel-Keith-Perkins-Lincoln-Chase-Hayes-Frontier-
Western Cherry-
820 PM CST Mon Dec 25 2023 /720 PM MST Mon Dec 25 2023/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north
central Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

A high impact winter storm system continues across western and north
central Nebraska with blizzard conditions expected. Northwest winds
will also increase with gusts of 45 to 55 miles per hour, persisting
well into the overnight. Travel will be very difficult to impossible
due to snow-covered roads and whiteout conditions. Widespread travel
impacts are likely. A Blizzard Warning continues for all of western
and north central Nebraska.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Blizzard conditions continue into Tuesday with continued heavy
snowfall and significant northwest winds gusting up to 55 miles per
hour. Sleet and freezing rain mixed with snowfall will be possible
Tuesday morning for areas generally east of HWY 83. Amounts should
remain limited to a glaze. Snow will begin to taper off through the
day on Wednesday with winds diminishing as well, though impacts due
to significant snow amounts, blowing and drifting of snow, and snow-
packed roads will likely continue. Widespread storm total snow
accumulation of 6 inches or more are expected for most of central and
western Nebraska,though heavier amounts of 12 to 20 inches are
expected across far north central. Persons planning to travel should
be prepared to alter plans.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Please report snow totals and blizzard impacts to NWS North Platte.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
720 PM CST Mon Dec 25 2023

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

0600 PM     Snow             3 ENE North Platte      41.15N 100.72W
12/25/2023  M1.5 inch        Lincoln            NE   Official NWS Obs

0540 PM     Snow             Callaway                41.29N 99.92W
12/25/2023  M2.5 inch        Custer             NE   Public

0600 PM     Snow             Ansley                  41.29N 99.38W
12/25/2023  M2.0 inch        Custer             NE   Public

0600 PM     Snow             1 S Valentine           42.86N 100.55W
12/25/2023  M1.2 inch        Cherry             NE   Official NWS Obs

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service North Platte NE
842 PM CST Mon Dec 25 2023

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

0812 PM     Blizzard         North Platte            41.13N 100.77W
12/25/2023                   Lincoln            NE   Fire Dept/Rescue

            1/4 mile visibility with drifts up to 4
            feet. Roads are beginning to be drifted over
            with 1 foot drifts in places.

&&