Nebraska, 2010

Ice Storm in Nebraska, January 19 to 20, 2010

January 19 to 20, 2010 · NWS OAX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

An upper level disturbance that lifted across the central plains caused a weak area of low pressure to lift across the area. The disturbance brought slightly milder and more moist air aloft which produced freezing rain with pockets of substantial glazing.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 OAX wrote it up.

An upper level disturbance that lifted across the central plains caused a weak area of low pressure to lift across the area. The disturbance brought slightly milder and more moist air aloft which produced freezing rain with pockets of substantial glazing. The hardest hit area was northwest through east of Omaha. Some locations north of Omaha received upwards of a 1/2 inch of ice accumulations. The weight of the ice caused areas of tree damage along with downing power lines and causing power pole damage. Northeast Nebraska Public Power reported that 4,200 customers lost power from the storm, and some remained without power for several days. Several schools in the area were closed on Jan. 20th and some rural mail delivery was canceled.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Burt

When
January 19, 11:30 PM CST to January 20, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Burt forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
41.852, -96.329 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain accumulated between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch over much of the county. Although winds weren't particularly strong, the weight of the ice caused scattered tree damage which took down power lines causing loss of power for an estimated 800 customers, some of which remained without power until the 25th.

Ice Storm, Cuming

When
January 19, 11:30 PM CST to January 20, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Cuming forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
41.916, -96.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain accumulated between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch over much of the county. Although winds weren't particularly strong, the weight of the ice caused scattered tree damage and downed power lines and broke power poles. Cuming County Public Power District stated that the damage to power lines and power poles was major. An estimated 1,500 customers lost power, some of which remained without power until the 25th. Some schools also closed.

Ice Storm, Washington

When
January 20, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
41.531, -96.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain accumulated between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch over much of the county. Although winds weren't particularly strong, the weight of the ice caused isolated tree damage.

Ice Storm, Thurston

When
January 20, 12:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Thurston forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
42.158, -96.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain accumulated between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch over much of the county. Although winds weren't particularly strong, the weight of the ice caused scattered tree damage which took down power lines and knocked the power out in some areas. Some people, mainly in rural areas, remained without power until the 25th. Several schools in the area also closed.

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

More

Every storm in Nebraska in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, January 2010

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: 202916, 202918, 202915, 202919.