Blizzard in Nebraska, October 24 to 25, 1997

An early season blizzard dumped up to 12 inches of snow in areas of the Nebraska Panhandle, downing power poles and power lines as well as making many roads impassable. Wet, wind-driven snow damaged unharvested milo, corn and sunflower fields, and many motorists were stranded on impassable roads or when vehicles slid off roads. Scotts Bluff county spent an estimated $5K in overtime trying to keep roads passable. High school athletic events were postponed, as were many other events. By the evening of the 24th, approximately half of the homes in Kimball were without power due to fallen power poles and lines. The following occurrences were documented as occurring on the 24th. In addition to numerous minor traffic accidents, a Utah man suffered head injuries when a semi-tractor with two trailers jackknifed on ice and slid off a bridge over the Potter interchange of Interstate 80 at 1231, totaling the tractor and first trailer in addition to closing the interstate for five hours. A Kansas man suffered minor facial injuries when he lost control of his car on ice and slid into a bridge at the east Sidney interchange of Interstate 80 at 1430. A cattle truck overturned two miles south of Sidney on Highway 19 at 1750, causing $50K damage to the trailer and killing 17 cattle. A semi-tractor on Highway 2 tipped over on its side in Alliance. The following occurrences were documented as occurring on the 25th. Interstate 80 was closed from east of the Panhandle to the Wyoming border. All county roads in Banner County were closed. Highway 71 was closed from Crawford to the Colorado border. 55 cattle were killed at approximately 0300 north of Alliance when they wandered onto railroad tracks and were struck by a westbound Burlington-Northern Santa Fe train travelling at 50 MPH in conditions of near-zero visibility; the value of the cattle was estimated at $55K and no damage occurred to the train or tracks. A pileup involving five vehicles occurred 17 miles south of Chadron on Highway 385 before the highway was closed north and south of Chadron. Kimball received an estimated $20K damage from fallen power lines and poles as well as fallen trees. 100 to 150 power poles were downed in the vicinity of Kimball, and Kimball County was declared a disaster area. The following occurrence was documented as occurring on the 26th. A Georgia man suffered head and hand injuries when the semi-tractor and trailer he was driving jackknifed and was struck by another semi-tractor and trailer at 0837; occurred on westbound Interstate 80 at the Brownson interchange.