Blizzard in Nebraska, November 27 to 28, 2005

Name: Blizzard in Nebraska, November 27 to 28, 2005
Start: 2005-11-27T14:00
End: 2005-11-28T17:00
Location: Nebraska

November 27 to 28, 2005 · NWS GLD · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A slow-moving storm system moved out of Colorado into central Kansas. Strong gradient winds on the back side of the storm produced a prolonged period of very low visibility and extreme wind.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 GLD wrote it up.

A slow-moving storm system moved out of Colorado into central Kansas. Strong gradient winds on the back side of the storm produced a prolonged period of very low visibility and extreme wind. Snowfall amounts across southwest Nebraska ranged from two to three inches in Dundy county to around seven inches in Red Willow county at McCook. Peak wind gusts were measured at 68 mph in McCook, resulting in whiteout conditions, five to ten-foot snow drifts and closure of all county roads for two days. Numerous power outages were also reported.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 27, 4:01 AM MST, 9 hours 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 27, 4:01 AM MST, 9 hours 59 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
401 AM MST SUN NOV 27 2005

.DISCUSSION...BREWING WINTER STORM PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERN. ALL THE
SHORT TERM MODELS INCLUDING NAM/GFS/SREF TRENDED SLOWER AND FURTHER
SOUTH/WEST WITH UPPER LOW AND ATTENDANT SURFACE FEATURES AND
PRECIPITATION. SREF SEEMS TO HAVE THE BEST CONTINUITY AND WILL BE
PREFERRED MODEL SOLUTION.

WATER VAPOR LOOP THIS MORNING SHOWS THE STRONG UPPER LOW DIGGING
INTO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. 500MB HEIGHT FALLS OF 10-15 DAM WERE
CENTERED OVER THE FOUR CORNERS AREA. 6-HOUR SURFACE PRESSURE DROPS
OF AROUND 8MB OCCURRING IN NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO...WITH BROAD AREA OF
FALLING SURFACE PRESSURES EXTENDING NORTHEAST ALONG DEVELOPING COLD
FRONT. FORECAST AREA ALREADY ON COLD SIDE OF FRONT AND NORTHWEST
WINDS INCREASING. WIND WILL BE A HUGE PLAYER WITH THIS SYSTEM.
SURFACE LOW FORECAST TO DEEPEN TO NEAR 983MB IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL RAPIDLY STEEPEN THE PRESSURE GRADIENT
ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA. FORECAST 0-1KM AND MOS WINDS INCREASE INTO
HIGH END ADVISORY CRITERIA AS EARLY AS 18Z THIS AFTERNOON...AND DO
NOT LET UP UNTIL LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP FROM SOUTHEAST COLORADO LATER THIS MORNING AND ACROSS THE
FORECAST AREA. FORECAST POINT SOUNDINGS SHOW A BRIEF PERIOD OF LIGHT
SNOW IN THE WEST...WITH RAIN/SNOW FURTHER EAST CHANGING TO ALL SNOW
IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL CONTINUE IN EASTERN AREAS THROUGH THE
NIGHT...HEAVY AT TIMES...AS 700MB FRONTOGENESIS AXIS SETS UP NEAR
COLORADO STATE LINE AND MOVES VERY LITTLE. IN FACT MODELS SHOW IT
SLOWLY MIGRATING WESTWARD OVERNIGHT...AND WITH IT THE SNOW.

HIGHLIGHTS BASED PRIMARILY ON 24-36 HOURS OF STRONG WINDS AND AREAS
OF SNOW/BLOWING SNOW. EXACTLY HOW FAR WEST THE SNOW WILL REACH WAS A
MAJOR FORECAST CHALLENGE. GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE WIND...IT WONT
TAKE MUCH SNOW TO REACH BLIZZARD CRITERIA. THIS SEEMED MOST LIKELY
TO OCCUR IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA TONIGHT AND MONDAY. FURTHER
WEST...WAS NOT ENOUGH CONFIDENCE THAT SNOW RESULTING IN 1/4 MILE
VISIBILITY WOULD FALL TO ISSUE A BLIZZARD WATCH. HOWEVER...IT WILL
BE VERY WINDY AND SOME SNOW COULD FALL. THUS WINTER STORM WATCH
SEEMED TO LEAVE THE MOST OPTIONS OPEN FOR FOLLOW UPS BY THE NEXT
SHIFT.

EXTENDED...FLOW PATTERN THROUGH THE EXTENDED CONTINUES TO BE RATHER
ACTIVE. THE BEGINNING OF THE EXTENDED WILL SEE A UPPER LEVEL TROUGH
AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT TRAVERSE THE REGION. AT THIS TIME...SEE NO
REASON TO REMOVE POPS AND SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SNOW SHOWERS ON
WEDNESDAY. TEMPS LOOK RATHER COOL...WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE
AND COLD AIR FILTERS IN FROM THE NORTH. AS THIS SYSTEM EXITS TO THE
EAST...RIDGING QUICKLY BUILDS IN BEHIND IT THANKS IN PART TO THE
DIGGING VORTEX OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. DESPITE THE CLEARING SKIES
AND DEVELOPING SOUTHWEST FLOW...TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN RATHER
CHILLY FOR THURSDAY AS 850 TEMPS REMAIN IN THE SINGLE DIGITS OR
BELOW ZERO. BY FRIDAY...HEIGHTS BEGIN TO RISE AND SOUTHERLY FLOW
KICKS IN ALLOWING FOR A BRIEF WARMING TREND INTO SATURDAY. ON SUNDAY
A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL PUSH IN FROM THE NORTHWEST ALLOWING FOR
ANOTHER COOL DOWN.

ALL IN ALL...STAYED THE COURSE WITH ON GOING FORECAST AND ONLY MADE
MINOR CHANGES.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FROM 11 AM MST /NOON CST/ THIS
     MORNING TO 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ THIS AFTERNOON FOR KSZ001-
     KSZ002-KSZ003-KSZ004-KSZ013-KSZ014-KSZ015-KSZ016-KSZ027-
     KSZ028-KSZ029-KSZ041-KSZ042.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR KSZ001-KSZ013-KSZ027-KSZ041-KSZ042.

     BLIZZARD WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR
     KSZ002-KSZ003-KSZ004-KSZ014-KSZ015-KSZ016-KSZ028-KSZ029.

NE...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FROM 11 AM MST /NOON CST/ THIS
     MORNING TO 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ THIS AFTERNOON FOR NEZ079-
     NEZ080-NEZ081.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR NEZ079.

     BLIZZARD WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR
     NEZ080-NEZ081.

CO...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM
     MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR COZ090-COZ091-COZ092.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR COZ090-COZ091-COZ092.

&&

JDK/MBM

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 27, 5:35 AM MST, 8 hours 25 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
535 AM MST SUN NOV 27 2005

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-281315-
YUMA-KIT CARSON-CHEYENNE CO-CHEYENNE KS-RAWLINS-DECATUR-NORTON-
SHERMAN-THOMAS-SHERIDAN-GRAHAM-WALLACE-LOGAN-GOVE-GREELEY-WICHITA-
DUNDY-HITCHCOCK-RED WILLOW-
635 AM CST SUN NOV 27 2005 /535 AM MST SUN NOV 27 2005/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EXTREME SOUTHWEST
NEBRASKA...NORTHWEST KANSAS AND EAST CENTRAL COLORADO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING VERY WINDY CONDITIONS
AND SNOW TO THE TRI STATE AREA. RAIN AND SNOW THIS MORNING WILL
CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW BY THE AFTERNOON...AND CONTINUE THROUGH
THE NIGHT. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON TO 30 TO
40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH. THE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO HOWL
THROUGH THE NIGHT. THE LIGHT SNOW THIS AFTERNOON WILL COMBINE WITH THE
STRONG WINDS TO PRODUCE AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED
VISIBILITIES. TONIGHT...SNOW WILL BECOME HEAVIER EAST OF THE COLORADO
STATE LINE...WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS POSSIBLE IN SOME AREAS.
TRAVEL WILL BECOME TREACHEROUS ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST KANSAS
AND SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS BY MONDAY MORNING
OF 3 TO 6 INCHES WILL BE FOUND EAST OF A BENKELMAN NEBRASKA TO COLBY
TO RUSSELL SPRINGS KANSAS LINE...WITH 1 TO 3 INCHES WEST OF THAT LINE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

ON MONDAY...LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO WRAPAROUND THE STORM
SYSTEM AND INTO THE TRI STATE AREA...MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE
70. ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO AN INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE.
NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH WILL CREATE
AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW AND THE THREAT OF WHITE OUT CONDITIONS IN
AREAS THAT RECEIVE HEAVY SNOW SUNDAY NIGHT.

ON WEDNESDAY A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE
NORTH. THE FRONT MAY ALLOW FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF LIGHT SNOW
SHOWERS. NO SNOW ACCUMULATION IS ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

JDK

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 27, 11:15 AM MST, 2 hours 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1115 AM MST SUN NOV 27 2005

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

1107 AM     BLIZZARD         STRATTON                39.30N 102.60W
11/27/2005                   KIT CARSON         CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VISIBILITIES LESS THAN 1/4. 3 INCHES OF SNOW ON GROUND.
            HIGHWAYS CLOSED FROM LIMON EAST. SUSTAINED 30 MPH WINDS.
            COOP OBSERVER REPORTED 25 CAR PILE UP IN FLAGLER CO ON
            INTERSTATE 70. INJURIES REPORTED.

&&

BOYD

Local storm report, Nov 27, 12:11 PM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1211 PM MST SUN NOV 27 2005

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

1152 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST FLAGLER                 39.29N 103.07W
11/27/2005  0 MPH            KIT CARSON         CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SUSTAINED WINDS 35-45 MPH GUST 58 MPH. VISIBILITIES 1 TO
            1 1/2 MILES. 1/2 SNOW ON GROUND LIGHT SNOW. SNOW PACKED
            ICY ROADS.

&&

BOYD

Local storm report, Nov 27, 12:13 PM MST, 1 hour 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1213 PM MST SUN NOV 27 2005

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

1152 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST FLAGLER                 39.29N 103.07W
11/27/2005  58 MPH           KIT CARSON         CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SUSTAINED WINDS 35-45 MPH GUST 58 MPH. VISIBILITIES 1 TO
            1 1/2 MILES. 1/2 SNOW ON GROUND LIGHT SNOW. SNOW PACKED
            ICY ROADS.

&&

BOYD

Local storm report, Nov 27, 12:54 PM MST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1254 PM MST SUN NOV 27 2005

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

1252 PM     BLIZZARD         12 S ARAPAHOE           38.68N 102.17W
11/27/2005                   CHEYENNE           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 45 TO 50 MPH WINDS WITH LIGHT SNOW STARTING TO
            ACCUMULATE

&&

BOYD

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Dundy

When: November 27, 2:00 PM MST to November 28, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Dundy forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.176, -101.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hitchcock

When: November 27, 2:00 PM MST to November 28, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Hitchcock forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.176, -101.042 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Red Willow

When: November 27, 2:00 PM MST to November 28, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Red Willow forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.176, -100.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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

Every storm in Nebraska in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, November 2005

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: 5481631, 5481632, 5481633.