A strong storm system moving out of the Southern Rockies brought a significant springtime winter storm to western and north central Nebraska on April 10th and 11th. Heavy snowfall with blowing snow reduced visibilities to as low as a quarter mile for several hours as north winds of 20 to 30 mph with occasional gusts to 40 mph occurred.
Every event with a place to put it; 27 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS LBF wrote it up.
A strong storm system moving out of the Southern Rockies brought a significant springtime winter storm to western and north central Nebraska on April 10th and 11th. Heavy snowfall with blowing snow reduced visibilities to as low as a quarter mile for several hours as north winds of 20 to 30 mph with occasional gusts to 40 mph occurred. Snowfall amounts ranging from 4 to 13 inches fell with the heaviest amounts occurring across the central Sandhills.
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 North Platte, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 10, 2:20 AM MST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 420 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008 .DISCUSSION... ...MAJOR WINTER STORM IS UPON WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEB... MODELS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE PROFILE AND WILL BE ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS FOR TOTAL SNOWFALL POTENTIAL. ANOTHER OTHER CONCERN IS ALL THE CONVECTION WELL TO THE SOUTH AND EAST...AS SOMETIMES THIS CONVECTION WILL ROB WESTERN NEBRASKA OF THE MOISTURE. DEW PTS STILL IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S ACROSS SW INTO N CENTRAL NEB...WHICH FOLLOWS CLOSER TO THE WARMER GFS AND MAV GUIDANCE...THUS THIS IS THE MODEL USED TO START GRIDS. WINDS HAVE SWITCHED TO ENE ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA WHICH IS EXPECTED TO ALLOW FOR LOWER DEW PTS TO START FILL IN. MEANWHILE WESTERN NEB AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL SANDHILLS HAVE BEEN REPORTING SN AT TIMES. COOLER CLOUD TOPS ON IR WRAPPING INTO THE SYSTEM WITH CLASSIC SPRING SYSTEM SETTING UP. STORM SLOWS TO AROUND 10 KTS THIS EVENING AND WILL ALLOW WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH. SOME CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL NEB. KEPT WINTER STORM WARNING HEADLINE AS DAY SHIFT CAN REEVALUATE BLIZZARD POTENTIAL BEFORE CONDITIONS WOULD BE MET. DID ADJUST SOME TIMES TO ACCOUNT FOR SNOW IN THE SANDHILLS THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED. MAY NOT SEE FULL CHANGE OVER IN FAR EASTERN COUNTIES UNTIL CLOSER TO 00Z...HOWEVER TRIED TO KEEP THE HEADLINES SIMPLE. SYSTEM WILL BE SLOW TO EXIT...WITH LIGHT WRAP AROUND SNOW STILL POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT. THEN HIGH PRESSURE TO BUILD INTO THE REGION AND A SLOW WARMING TREND TO COMMENCE. HAVE KEPT TEMPS CLOSE TO GUIDANCE AS APRIL SNOW USUALLY DOES NOT LAST MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS. && .AVIATION... STRONG SPRING STORM MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL BRING SNOW...HEAVY A TIMES TO WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. IFR CONDITIONS ARE IN PLACE ACROSS A MAJORITY OF THE REGION DUE TO CIG HGHTS AND LOWERED VSBYS WHERE SNOW IS FALLING. EXTENDED PERIODS OF IFR/LIFR ARE LIKELY OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH HEAVY SNOW REDUCING VSBYS TO A HALF MILE OR LESS AND MOST LIKELY OBSCURED SKY CONDITIONS. WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL ALSO HELP KEEP THESE VSBY CONDITIONS LOWERED. CONDITIONS DO NOT LOOK TO IMPROVE UNTIL FRIDAY MORNING. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM MDT FRIDAY FOR NEZ004-022>024-035-056>058-069-094. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 12 PM CDT FRIDAY FOR NEZ006>010-026>029-038-059-070-071. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 12 PM CDT FRIDAY FOR NEZ005-025-036-037. && MASEK/13
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 551 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-111200- SHERIDAN-EASTERN CHERRY-KEYA PAHA-BOYD-BROWN-ROCK-HOLT-GARDEN- GRANT-HOOKER-THOMAS-BLAINE-LOUP-GARFIELD-WHEELER-ARTHUR-MCPHERSON- LOGAN-CUSTER-DEUEL-KEITH-PERKINS-LINCOLN-CHASE-HAYES-FRONTIER- WESTERN CHERRY- 551 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008 /451 AM MDT THU APR 10 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. WINTER STORM WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT OVER ALL OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA TODAY. SNOW IN THE PANHANDLE AND SANDHILLS THIS MORNING WILL TRANSITION INTO THE REMAINDER OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA BY THE EARLY AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES WITH THIS STRONG...AND SLOW MOVING SYSTEM AND ALLOW FOR SOME SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS. THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS...IN THE 7 TO 10 INCH RANGE ARE EXPECTED BETWEEN HIGHWAYS 61 AND 281...NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. GENERALLY 5 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOWFALL ARE EXPECTED OUTSIDE THIS AREA. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY...BECOMING THEIR STRONGEST TONIGHT AS THE MAIN SURFACE LOW MOVES INTO THE MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY. SUSTAINED WINDS AND GUSTS MAY EXCEED 30 MPH...CREATING NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH VISIBILITIES DROPPING BELOW A HALF OF A MILE A TIMES WITH WIND DRIVEN HEAVY WET SNOW. ROAD CLOSURES AND TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES ARE ANTICIPATED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OUT OF THE AREA DURING THE DAY ON FRIDAY. THOUGH ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF THE DAY...IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED BY LATE AFTERNOON. NORTHERLY WINDS WILL STILL BE UP TO 30 MPH ON FRIDAY AND MAY CONTINUE TO CAUSE SOME TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. WARMER AND DRIER WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO RETURN FOR THE WEEKEND WELL INTO NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. && THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER... HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION...AT HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/LBF(ALL LOWERCASE) 13
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
27 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 5 to 8 inches occurred across Sheridan county. A Cooperative observer 15 miles north northeast of Ellsworth reported 8 inches of snowfall. North winds of 20 to 30 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow and hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 10 inches occurred across Garden county. A Cooperative observer in Lewellen reported 10 inches of snowfall. North winds of 20 to 30 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow and hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 9 to 12 inches occurred across Grant county. A public report of 12 inches occurred 2 miles northeast of Whitman. North winds of 20 to 30 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow and hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 10 to 13 inches occurred across Hooker county. A Cooperative observer report of 13.5 inches occurred 15 miles south of Mullen. North winds of 25 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently below a quarter mile and hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 8 to 12 inches occurred across Arthur county. A Cooperative observer report of 12 inches occurred in Arthur. North winds of 25 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently below a quarter mile and hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 10 to 13 inches occurred across Deuel county. A Cooperative observer report of 12.5 inches occurred in Big Springs. North winds of 25 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently below a quarter mile and hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 10 to 13 inches occurred across Keith county. A public report of 9 inches occurred 4 miles southeast of Ogallala. North winds of 25 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility ranging from a quarter to 3/4 miles for nine hours with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 5 to 8 inches occurred across Perkins county. A public report of 7.5 inches occurred 3 miles south of Grant. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 13 inches occurred across Western Cherry county. A Cooperative observer report of 13 inches occurred 21 miles northwest of Mullen. North winds of 25 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 mile or less with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 13 inches occurred across Eastern Cherry county. A public report of 13 inches occurred 24 miles south of Wood Lake. North winds of 25 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 mile for nine hours with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 4 to 6 inches occurred across Chase county. The Nebraska department of roads closed highway 6, west of Imperial due to poor road conditions. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 10 inches occurred across Keya Paha county. A public report of 10 inches occurred 17 miles west northwest of Springview. North winds of 25 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 12 inches occurred across Boyd county. A public report of 12 inches occurred 1 mile east of Gross. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility reduced to a 1/4 mile at times with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 8 to 12 inches occurred across Brown county. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility reduced to a 1/4 mile at times with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 8 inches occurred across Rock county. A public report of 7 inches occurred 15 miles west of Amelia. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility reduced to a 1/4 mile at times with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 5 to 8 inches occurred across Holt county. A Cooperative observer report of 8 inches occurred in O'Neill. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile for 7 hours with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 10 to 12 inches occurred across Thomas county. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with the Thedford AWOS reporting visibility reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile for 8 hours with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 8 to 12 inches occurred across Blaine county. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 8 inches occurred across Loup county. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 8 inches occurred across Garfield county. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 6 to 8 inches occurred across Wheeler county. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 7 to 10 inches occurred across McPherson county. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 7 to 11 inches occurred across Logan county. A Cooperative observer reported 11 inches of snow 5 miles west of Stapleton. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 4 to 13 inches occurred across Custer county. A public report of 13 inches occurred 15 miles north of Broken Bow with snow drifts of 5 to 6 feet. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility frequently reduced to a 1/4 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 5 to 9 inches occurred across Lincoln county. A Cooperative observer report of 8 inches occurred 5 miles south southeast of Hershey. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile for 8 hours with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 4 to 6 inches occurred across Hayes county. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
Heavy snowfall with amounts ranging from 4 to 7 inches occurred across Frontier county. A Cooperative observer 4 miles west northwest of Eustis reported 7 inches of snow. North winds of 20 to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow with visibility reduced to a 1/4 to 1/2 mile with hazardous driving conditions.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, April 2008
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: 80088, 80089, 80090, 80118, 84033, 84034, 84035, 84036, 84037, 84038, 84054, 84039, 84040, 84041, 84042, 84043, 84044, 84045, 84046, 84047, 84048, 84049, 84050, 84051, 84053, 84055, 84056.