Winter Storm in Iowa, February 9 to 10, 2002

Rain changed to snow from west to east across eastern Nebraska and part of west central Iowa from late Saturday morning 02/09 through late afternoon. The snow ended over much of eastern Nebraska and west central Iowa by 2 or 3 am on the 10th, although strong winds continued to cause blowing and drifting snow. The changeover to snow was accompanied by north winds which gusted between 40 and 50 mph. Although snow amounts weren't excessive from this storm, generally 2 to 5 inches, the strong winds caused substantial blowing and drifting snow. This was especially true north and northwest of Omaha where the rain changed to snow the earliest and had less moisture content. The blowing and drifting snow closed highways north of Fremont and north and east of Norfolk, Nebraska. In addition, highway and interstate travel in west central Iowa, northeast of Omaha, was also greatly restricted for a time. Because the snow was wetter from around Fairbury northeast to Omaha, and points north and northeast, the blowing and drifting was not as pronounced. However, the since the wet snow stuck to power lines and trees, numerous power outages occurred when the winds picked up. OPPD estimated over 8000 customers lost power around and to the north of Omaha.Higher snow amounts included...6 inches at Wayne, 5 in Little Sioux, Iowa and Uehling, Nebraska and 4 inches in Blair, Madison, Tekamah, West Point and Schuyler, Nebraska and Castana, Iowa. Higher wind gusts included 52 mph in Beatrice, 51 mph in Columbus and 46 mph at Norfolk.