Nebraska, 1997

Blizzard and High Wind in Nebraska, December 27 to 28, 1997

December 27 to 28, 1997 · NWS CYS · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Ground blizzard conditions were created by strong winds blowing over freshly fallen snow. Visibility of only 8 feet was reported on Nebraska highway 20 from Chadron east to Sheridan County at approximately 2100.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CYS wrote it up.

Ground blizzard conditions were created by strong winds blowing over freshly fallen snow. Visibility of only 8 feet was reported on Nebraska highway 20 from Chadron east to Sheridan County at approximately 2100. Highway 71 was closed between Kimball and Gering, and Interstate 80 were closed in the vicinity of Kimball due to whiteout conditions with sustained winds of 40 MPH. Approximately 35 tractor trailers, one bus and 15 cars stayed in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant that remained open to provide safe haven to travellers. Harrison reported wind gusts of 60 MPH at approximately 1200. Numerous traffic accidents occurred, including a single car rollover 5 miles west of Bridgeport that injured the driver and caused $3K damage to the car.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 blizzard, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Sioux

When
December 27, 9:00 AM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Sioux forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)

Blizzard, Dawes

When
December 27, 9:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Dawes forecast zone
Coordinates
42.720, -103.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Kimball

When
December 27, 9:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Kimball forecast zone
Coordinates
41.198, -103.715 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Morrill

When
December 27, 9:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Morrill forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
41.716, -103.010 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Banner

When
December 27, 9:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Banner forecast zone
Coordinates
41.546, -103.710 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Scotts Bluff

When
December 27, 9:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Scotts Bluff forecast zone
Coordinates
41.851, -103.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nebraska in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5626406, 5626405, 5626407, 5626408, 5626409, 5626410.