Ice Storm in Nebraska, December 29 to 31, 2006

Name: Ice Storm in Nebraska, December 29 to 31, 2006
Start: 2006-12-29T12:00
End: 2006-12-31T00:00
Location: Nebraska

December 29 to 31, 2006 · NWS GID · 23 events in 23 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 23 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: $71 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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 GID wrote it up.

A wide variety of significant winter weather began impacting portions of south central Nebraska during the day on Friday (12/29) and continued through Saturday night (12/30), before exiting the area on Sunday (12/31). Freezing rain, sleet, and snow began Friday afternoon in portions of Dawson county, with snowfall amounts as high as 9 inches. By Friday night most of the precipitation had turned to sleet and freezing rain, pressing further east to around highway 281. This led to significant ice accumulations which continued through Saturday night. The areas just west of Grand Island and Hastings received significant ice accrual from the storm, with up to an inch of ice reported from Wood River and Juniata. Many locations received at least one half inch of ice. The deposits of ice have caused widespread tree damage, along with power outages, and damage to power lines and poles. |Snowfall reports up to Sunday morning showed the heaviest snowfall fell west of a line from Greeley to Alma. Several small towns were running via generators. The town of Holdrege was expecting to finally have the transmission lines repaired and switched from generator to commercial power on January 17.

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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 29, 5:34 AM CST, 6 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 29, 5:34 AM CST, 6 hours 26 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
534 AM CST FRI DEC 29 2006

.DISCUSSION...INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED FORECAST TO SAY THE LEAST.
BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS THIS AFD WILL BE KEPT SHORT AND TO THE
POINT.

INCREDIBLY WOUND UP UPPER LOW IS STILL JUST TRYING TO EMERGE OUT
OF THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES. THIS GIVES PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE
FORECAST TO GO WRONG AND THERE IS PLENTY THAT CAN GO WRONG.
BASICALLY DID THE BEST I COULD WITH SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND
RELIED A LOT ON PERSISTENCE DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR AIRMASS AT
THE SURFACE WILL NOT CHANGE A WHOLE LOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS THIS
LOW TAKES ITS TIME TO MOVE.

PROBLEMS THIS MORNING DEAL WITH LIGHT PRECIP AND TEMPERATURES
CLOSE TO FREEZING AT THE SURFACE...MAINLY IN THE NORTHWEST CWA.
THEN LATER THIS AFTERNOON...MUCH OF OUR WARM LAYER GOES AWAY AND
WE CHANGE TO SNOW FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CWA INTO THE EVENING.
THEN ANOTHER SHOT OF WARM AIR ALOFT WORKS IN LATE TONIGHT AND
HELPS CONVERT MUCH OF THE PRECIP BACK TO FREEZING RAIN. SATURDAY
COULD BE MAINLY RAIN...BUT OUR WEST CWA STILL REMAINS TROUBLESOME
WITH WARM LAYERS STUBBORNLY PROGGED TO BE JUST BELOW ZERO. ONE
PROBLEM IS THAT THE WARM LAYER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO STAY AT
ONE LEVEL...SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO TRACK ON PLAN VIEW. IT LANDS
ANYWHERE FROM 800 TO 900 MB AND AT SMALL INCREMENTS IN BETWEEN.
I THINK THE GFS IS TOO COLD FOR THE MOST PART FOR THE WARM
LAYER...AND SEEMS TO CLEARLY SHOW ITS WARM BIAS AND PREFERRED THE
NAM WRF WARM LAYER DEPICTIONS.

THAT BEING SAID...SATURDAY EVENING COULD BE OUR MOST DIFFICULT
TIME HERE. THIS IS WHEN A GOOD SLUG OF MOISTURE AND FRONTOGENETIC
FORCING COMES IN AND THE WESTERN THIRD OF OUR CWA SEEMS TO LOSE
ALL SENSE OF A WARM LAYER ABOVE ZERO CELSIUS. EVEN THE ECMWF SHOWS
THE ZERO LINE AT 850 MB SLICED OVER THE CWA TO ALLOW THE WESTERN
PART OF THE CWA TO GET SNOW ON SATURDAY NIGHT. ALONG WITH THE
EXPECTED WIND...THIS COULD BE TROUBLESOME. I KEPT A WATCH
GOING...MAINLY BECAUSE I AM WORRIED ABOUT SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE
WEST. WE COULD PICK UP SNOW VERY QUICKLY AND THE WIND COULD MAKE
THINGS EVEN MORE HAZARDOUS. FOR CONTINUITY...I DECIDED TO ADD 4
COUNTIES TO BEST MATCH UP WITH THE WATCH FROM NORTH PLATTE...AND
THESE ADDITIONAL COUNTIES COULD EASILY BE IN THE LINE OF FIRE FOR
ACCUMULATING SNOW AND WIND. THIS SEEMED TO BE THE BEST OPTION TO
KEEP THINGS FROM APPEARING DISJOINTED. ALSO...TO AVOID
CONFUSION...THE THE GROUP HERE DECIDED NOT TO DROP THE EARLIER
PART OF THE WATCH ON FRIDAY NIGHT OR SATURDAY DUE TO THE FACT WE
HAVE A MIXED BAG OF PRECIPITATION IN THE FORECAST IN THE FRIDAY
NIGHT AND SATURDAY TIME PERIOD. SO WE NOW HAVE A WATCH FROM FRIDAY
NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...WITH THE THOUGH THAT SATURDAY NIGHT
COULD GIVE US THE MOST TROUBLE.

DIFFICULT FORECAST AND A LOT MAY CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT
FORECAST. RIGHT NOW HAVE THE MOST SNOW TOTALS IN THE FAR WEST
CWA...TOPPING OUT AT UP TO 8 INCHES FOR WESTERN DAWSON IN OUR
TOTAL SNOW AMOUNT GRIDS.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT
     FOR NEZ039-046-060-061-072-073-082-083.

KS...NONE.
&&

HEINLEIN

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 29, 5:53 AM CST, 6 hours 7 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
553 AM CST FRI DEC 29 2006

KSZ005-017-NEZ039>041-046>048-060>062-072>075-082>085-301200-
PHILLIPS-ROOKS-VALLEY-GREELEY-NANCE-SHERMAN-HOWARD-MERRICK-DAWSON-
BUFFALO-HALL-GOSPER-PHELPS-KEARNEY-ADAMS-FURNAS-HARLAN-FRANKLIN-
WEBSTER-
553 AM CST FRI DEC 29 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA WEST
OF A LINE FROM CENTRAL CITY TO GRAND ISLAND TO RED CLOUD...AND
PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS MAINLY WEST OF HIGHWAY 281.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

FREEZING RAIN IS POSSIBLE THIS MORNING...MAINLY NORTHWEST OF A
LINE FROM HOLDREGE TO KEARNEY TO FULLERTON.

FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT...MAINLY AFTER
MIDNIGHT. ANY SLEET OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
LIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY...MAINLY IN THE
MORNING.

SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY NIGHT...MAINLY WEST OF
HIGHWAY 281. SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE
POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY WEST OF KEARNEY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT DUE TO POSSIBLE
FREEZING RAIN OR SLEET.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:
   HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS  (ALL LOWERCASE)

KSZ006-007-018-019-NEZ049-063-064-076-077-086-087-301200-
SMITH-JEWELL-OSBORNE-MITCHELL-POLK-HAMILTON-YORK-CLAY-FILLMORE-
NUCKOLLS-THAYER-
553 AM CST FRI DEC 29 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA EAST OF
A LINE FROM CENTRAL CITY TO GRAND ISLAND TO RED CLOUD...AND
PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS MAINLY EAST OF HIGHWAY 281.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY...MAINLY SOUTH OF GENEVA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:
   HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS  (ALL LOWERCASE)

HEINLEIN

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Dawson

When: December 29, 12:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Dawson forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.870, -99.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Gosper

When: December 29, 12:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Gosper forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.515, -99.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Furnas

When: December 29, 12:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Furnas forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.177, -99.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Valley

When: December 29, 12:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Valley forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.567, -98.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Sherman

When: December 29, 12:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Sherman forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.221, -98.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Buffalo

When: December 29, 12:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Buffalo forecast zone
Property damage: $5.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.855, -99.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Phelps

When: December 29, 12:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Phelps forecast zone
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.511, -99.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Harlan

When: December 29, 12:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Harlan forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.177, -99.405 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Kearney

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Kearney forecast zone
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.507, -98.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Franklin

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $3.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.176, -98.953 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Greeley

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Greeley forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.567, -98.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Howard

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Howard forecast zone
Property damage: $3.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.220, -98.517 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hall

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Hall forecast zone
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.873, -98.502 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Adams

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Property damage: $6.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.525, -98.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Webster

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.176, -98.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Nance

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Nance forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.397, -97.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Merrick

When: December 29, 6:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Merrick forecast zone
Property damage: $4.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.170, -98.038 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hamilton

When: December 30, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $4.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.874, -98.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Clay

When: December 30, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.524, -98.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Nuckolls

When: December 30, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Nuckolls forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.176, -98.047 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Polk

When: December 30, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.187, -97.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, York

When: December 30, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: York forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.873, -97.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Fillmore

When: December 30, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Fillmore forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.525, -97.596 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, December 2006

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: 9887, 9895, 9896, 9897, 9898, 9899, 9900, 9901, 9902, 9903, 9904, 9905, 9906, 9907, 9908, 9909, 9911, 9913, 9914, 9915, 9916, 9917, 9918.