Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Nebraska, January 9 to 12, 2011

Name: Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Nebraska, January 9 to 12, 2011
Start: 2011-01-09T00:00
End: 2011-01-12T09:00
Location: Nebraska

January 9 to 12, 2011 · NWS OAX · 43 events in 30 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 43 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: 1
Injuries: 4
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 43

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.

Pacific moisture and warm air wrapped around a large upper level low pressure system that moved from the northern Rockies slowly southeast into the eastern Dakotas from Saturday January 8 into the morning of January 11th. This brought a 36 to 48 hour period of snow to eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Although the snow was mostly light, periods of moderate snow were observed. In addition, since the snow fell for an extended time, total amounts over most of eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa reached 7 to 10+ inches. Most of the heavier amounts, centered on a 24 hour period from the morning of the 9th through the morning of the 10th, were in northeast Nebraska. Winds during much of the event were 10 to 20 mph which limited blowing and drifting. However, winds did pick up during the afternoon and evening of 1/10 and into the early morning hours of 1/11. This caused drifting snow across most of the region with some reduced visibilities in blowing snow as well. The stronger winds, and temperatures that dropped to zero or below, caused wind chill values to fall to 20 below to 29 below zero over northeast Nebraska on 1/11 and early on 1/12. Heavier storm total snowfall amounts included...12 inches in Columbus and Oakdale, Nebraska, 11 inches near Verdel, Loretto, and Bloomfield, Nebraska and Little Sioux, Iowa and 10 inches at Norfolk, Wayne, Ft. Calhoun, Gretna, David City, Lyons, Neligh, and Weston, Nebraska and Castana, Iowa.

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 Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 8, 3:01 PM CST, 8 hours 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 8, 3:01 PM CST, 8 hours 59 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
301 PM CST SAT JAN 8 2011

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY.

HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE EXTENDED FROM THE EASTERN DAKOTAS AND
MINNESOTA ACROSS IOWA INTO NORTHERN MISSOURI EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
BROAD AREA OF LIGHT SNOW STRETCHED FROM WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA INTO
CENTRAL PARTS OF NEBRASKA WITH THE EASTERN EDGE BRUSHING SOME
WESTERN COUNTIES OF THE CWA IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA.

MAIN CONCERN WILL BE THE DEVELOPING SNOW EVENT FOR THE AREA AS
UPPER WAVE OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES TRANSLATES EAST DURING THE
PERIOD. MODELS NOT TOO DIFFERENT IN EVOLUTION OF THE SYSTEM WITH
AREAS TO OUR WEST SEEING EXPANDING AREA OF SNOW TONIGHT THEN
FOCUSING OVER NORTHERN PARTS OF THE CWA ON SUNDAY. SNOW THEN
CONTINUES ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY NIGHT
BEFORE DIMINISHING LATE MONDAY NIGHT. LATEST THINKING IS FOR A
PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW ACCUMULATION WITH AMOUNTS IN THE 6-10
INCH RANGE BEFORE ENDING TUESDAY.

HAVE OPTED FOR ADVISORY HEADLINES AT THIS TIME AS AMOUNTS ARE NOT
EXPECTED TO MEET 12/24 HOUR CRITERIA AS WELL AS LACK OF STRONG
WINDS OR OTHER PRECIP TYPES TO COMPOUND TRAVEL PROBLEMS. DRY LOW
LEVELS WILL LIKELY HINDER SNOW DEVELOPMENT INITIALLY IN THE EAST.
NORTHWEST PART OF THE CWA EXPECTED TO SEE ACCUMULATING SNOW FIRST
AS DEEPER LAYER SATURATION OCCURS LATE TONIGHT...THUS ADVISORY IS
SPLIT INTO TWO GROUPS WITH THE NORTHWEST AREA STARTING AT 6AM
SUNDAY AND SECOND GROUPING FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AREAS 6PM
SUNDAY. MAIN PERIOD OF SNOWFALL STILL LOOKS TO BE FROM SUNDAY
NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY BEFORE VERTICAL MOTION WEAKENS AS ENERGY
MOVES EAST OF AREA. EURO CONTINUES TO INDICATE STRONGER SURFACE
WINDS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY THAN THE GFS OR NAM. SINCE CURRENT
WINDS ARE BASED ON NAM WILL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE STRONGER WINDS
IN LATER FORECASTS IF THIS TREND CONTINUES.

.LONG TERM...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY.

EXTENDED FORECAST FOCUS IS MAINLY TEMPERATURES...AT LEAST FOR THE
BEGINNING OF THE EXTENDED...AS ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS DOWN
ACROSS CENTRAL PLAINS BEHIND OUR WELL-ADVERTISE PROLONGED SNOW
EVENT.  WITH FRESH SNOW COVER WOULD EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO FALL
BELOW ZERO MOST AREAS BY WEDNESDAY MORNING...ALTHOUGH AIRMASS OVER
WESTERN CANADA THIS MORNING WAS NOT EXTRAORDINARILY COLD.  THUS
ALTHOUGH LOWS WERE LOWERED A BIT BASED ON LAST SEVERAL RUNS OF
GUIDANCE...DID NOT GO QUITE AS LOW AS 12Z MEX JUST YET BECAUSE OF
CURRENT UPSTREAM TEMPS WELL INTO CANADA WERE MOSTLY ABOVE NORMAL.
LEANED TOWARD THE SLIGHTLY SLOWER SOLUTION OF 00Z ECMWF IN MOVG SFC
HIGH EWD ON THURSDAY...THUS KEPT TEMPERATURES A BIT COLDER THAN MEX
THEN.  MODERATING TEMPERATURES STILL APPEAR IN ORDER FRIDAY AHEAD OF
NEXT ARCTIC FRONT WHICH IS SHOVED THROUGH FORECAST AREA FRIDAY NIGHT
BASED ON 00Z GFS MEAN.  HOWEVER...ATTM DID NOT QUITE AGREE WITH MILD
H85 TEMPERATURES FOR FRIDAY PER 00Z ECMWF.  INCLUDED SMALL SNOW POPS
WITH THIS FRONT FRI/FRI NGT NRN/NERN 1/2 ALTHOUGH MAIN ENERGY ALOFT
APPARENTLY WILL STAY PRETTY FAR TO OUR N.  REINFORCING SHOT OF
ARCTIC AIR ON DAY 7...ALTHOUGH BASED ON LATEST MODEL DATA...QUICKLY
MODERATING.

&&

.AVIATION...

TAF SITES KOFK/KOMA/KLNK

18Z TAFS

VARIABLE FLIGHT CATEGORIES ARE EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WE
WILL BEGIN WITH VFR OVER THE SITES AS DRY AIR MOVES IN FROM THE EAST
AS SFC HIGH PRESSURE MOVES SEWD OVER THE ERN DAKOTAS AND ERN NEB.
CIGS SHOULD BEGIN TO FALL TO MVFR AND EVENTUALLY IFR ONCE ATMOSPHERE
BECOMES SATURATED AND SNOW MOVES IN FROM WEST TO EAST. THE HEAVIEST
SNOWFALL OF THE PERIOD WL LIKELY OCCUR OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING
WITH A FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE AT ALL THREE TAF SITES.
WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 10KTS SO NOT LOOKING
FOR MUCH BLOWING SNOW. VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED IN AREAS OF SNOW
HOWEVER.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM SUNDAY TO 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR
     NEZ034-044-045-051>053-066>068-078-088>093.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 6 PM CST MONDAY FOR
     NEZ011-012-015>018-030>033-042-043-050-065.

IA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM SUNDAY TO 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR
     IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091.

&&

FOBERT/CHERMOK/KERN

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 8, 4:20 PM CST, 7 hours 40 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
420 PM CST SAT JAN 8 2011

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-091230-
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-
PAGE-KNOX-CEDAR-THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-BOONE-MADISON-
STANTON-CUMING-BURT-PLATTE-COLFAX-DODGE-WASHINGTON-BUTLER-
SAUNDERS-DOUGLAS-SARPY-SEWARD-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-SALINE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
420 PM CST SAT JAN 8 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
IOWA...WEST CENTRAL IOWA...EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA...NORTHEAST
NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SUNDAY

LIGHT SNOW WILL SPREAD INTO WESTERN PARTS OF THE AREA LATE
TONIGHT AND ACROSS THE REST OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA
ON SUNDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY

LIGHT AND OCCASIONAL MODERATE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR OVER MOST
OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY
MORNING. ALTHOUGH THE SNOW IS NOT CURRENTLY EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY
IN ANY 12 OR 24 HOUR PERIOD...TOTAL AMOUNTS COULD REACH 6 TO 10
INCHES DUE TO THE LONG DURATION OF THE EVENT. WINDS FOR THE NEXT
FEW DAYS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MOSTLY UNDER 15 MPH...BUT MAY INCREASE
INTO THE 15 TO 30 MPH RANGE TUESDAY. AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING
SNOW MAY OCCUR TUESDAY.

THOSE WITH TRAVEL PLANS THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS ARE URGED TO KEEP UP
TO DATE WITH THE LATEST FORECAST.

VERY COLD AIR WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA FROM MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY NIGHT...WITH WIND CHILL VALUES DROPPING WELL BELOW ZERO.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TONIGHT OR SUNDAY...BUT ANY SNOW
AMOUNT REPORTS WOULD BE HELPFUL.

FOBERT

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 winter weather, 14 cold/wind chill, 10 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Seward

When: January 9, 12:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Seward forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.872, -97.139 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals between 6 and 8 inches. Seward reported around 7 inches for one of the highest amounts received. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Saline

When: January 9, 12:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Saline forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.524, -97.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals around 6 or 7 inches. Around 7 inches was reported near Friend for one of the highest amounts received. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Jefferson

When: January 9, 12:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.176, -97.143 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals around 6 inches. Fairbury reported a little under 6 inches for one of the highest amounts received. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Gage

When: January 9, 12:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Gage forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.262, -96.689 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals around 6 inches. Beatrice reported 6 inches for one of the highest amounts received. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Knox

When: January 9, 2:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Knox forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.637, -97.892 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall over most of the county was 10 to 11 inches with 11 inches reported near Verdel and 10.5 inches at Bloomfield among the highest reported. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Antelope

When: January 9, 2:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Antelope forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.177, -98.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall over most of the county was 10 to 12 inches with 11.5 inches reported at Oakdale among the highest recorded. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Boone

When: January 9, 2:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.707, -98.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall over most of the county was 10 to 11 inches with 10.7 inches reported near Loretto among the highest recorded. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Madison

When: January 9, 2:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.917, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall over most of the county was 8 to 10 inches with 10.1 inches reported near Norfolk among the highest recorded. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Stanton

When: January 9, 2:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Stanton forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.917, -97.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall over most of the county was 8 to 10 inches with 10.2 inches reported near Stanton among the highest recorded. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Pierce

When: January 9, 2:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Pierce forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.264, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall over the county was generally 8 to 10 inches based on reports from surrounding counties. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Cedar

When: January 9, 2:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Cedar forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.599, -97.252 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Platte

When: January 9, 3:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Platte forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.571, -97.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall over most of the county was 8 to 12 inches with 12 inches reported in the Columbus area among the highest recorded. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Butler

When: January 9, 3:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.226, -97.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals between 8 to 10 inches. David City reported 9.5 inches for one of the highest amounts received. The snow fell over about a 36 hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which produced some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Lancaster

When: January 9, 3:00 AM CST to January 10, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Lancaster forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Injuries: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.784, -96.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals between 6 and 8 inches. Lincoln reported 6.7 inches and Raymond 7.6 inches for two of the highest amounts received. The snow fell over a 36 hour period and caused several accidents, including one on the 10th which claimed a life after the truck he was driving lost control on snowy roads hitting a pole and flipping over a steep embankment. Many area schools were closed on the 10th and 11th. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Colfax

When: January 9, 3:00 AM CST to January 10, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Colfax forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.574, -97.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Total snowfall over the county was 8 to 12 inches with a little over 12 inches reported in the Schuyler area among the highest recorded. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Wayne

When: January 9, 4:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Injuries: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.209, -97.119 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall over most of the county was 8 to 10 inches with 10 inches reported in Wayne among the highest recorded. Most of this snow fell over a 24 hour period from early on 1/9 through early on 1/10 causing some closures of area schools on the 10th and 11th. Winds during most of the snowfall were 10 to 20 mph or less, but they did pick up to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph by early afternoon on 1/10 which caused drifting snow and some reduced visibilities in blowing snow and also caused several accidents in the area, including at least one injury.

Winter Weather, Pawnee

When: January 9, 4:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Pawnee forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.132, -96.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals around 6 or 7 inches. Pawnee City reported 6.5 inches for one of the highest amounts received. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Johnson

When: January 9, 4:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.393, -96.265 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals based on reports from surrounding counties likely between 6 and 8 inches. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period and caused some local schools to close on the 10th and 11th. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Thurston

When: January 9, 4:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Thurston forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.158, -96.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals between 8 and 10 inches. Walthill reported 8 inches for one of the highest amounts received in the county. The snow fell over a 36 hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Cuming

When: January 9, 4:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Cuming forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.916, -96.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals between 8 and 10 inches. West Point reported 9 inches for one of the highest amounts received in the county. The snow fell over a 36 hour period and caused some schools to close on the 10th. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Saunders

When: January 9, 4:00 AM CST to January 10, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Saunders forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.226, -96.637 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals between 7 and 10 inches based on reports from surrounding counties. The snow fell over a 36 hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Cass

When: January 9, 5:00 AM CST to January 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Injuries: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.910, -96.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals based on reports from surrounding counties likely between 8 and 10 inches. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period and caused several accidents which resulted in injuries. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Otoe

When: January 9, 5:00 AM CST to January 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Otoe forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.649, -96.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals generally around 8 inches. Syracuse reported 7.5 inches for one of the higher totals received in the county. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Nemaha

When: January 9, 5:00 AM CST to January 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Nemaha forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.388, -95.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals generally around 8 inches. Auburn reported a little over 8 inches for one of the higher amounts received in the county. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Richardson

When: January 9, 5:00 AM CST to January 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Richardson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.125, -95.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals generally around 8 inches. Rulo reported a little over 8 inches for one of the higher amounts received in the county. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Sarpy

When: January 9, 5:00 AM CST to January 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Sarpy forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.113, -96.112 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals generally between 7 and 10 inches. Nearly 10 inches fell near Gretna for one of the higher amounts received in the county. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Douglas

When: January 9, 5:00 AM CST to January 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.295, -96.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals generally between 7 and 10 inches. A little over 7 inches was reported at the NWS office in Valley with around 7 inches at Omaha-Eppley. Some amounts of around 9 inches or a little more were reported in the Omaha area. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period and closed many schools on the 10th and some on the 11th also. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Washington

When: January 9, 5:00 AM CST to January 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.531, -96.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals generally between 8 and 10 inches. Almost 10 inches was reported in Ft. Calhoun for one of the higher totals received in the county. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Burt

When: January 9, 5:00 AM CST to January 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Burt forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 41.852, -96.329 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals generally between 8 and 10 inches. Tekamah reported 9 inches for one of the higher totals received in the county. The snow fell over a 36+ hour period. Winds during much of the snow were relatively light, but they did pick up some toward the end of the event which caused some drifting and blowing snow.

Cold/Wind Chill, Boone

When: January 11, 1:00 AM CST to January 12, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.707, -98.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Temperatures were around zero or colder for much of the period from the early morning hours of 1/11 into the morning hours of 1/12. When combined with northwest winds of around 10 to 20 mph, wind chill values were lowered to 20 below to 29 below zero for much of this time period.

Cold/Wind Chill, Knox

When: January 11, 3:00 AM CST to January 12, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Knox forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.637, -97.892 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Cedar

When: January 11, 3:00 AM CST to January 12, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Cedar forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.599, -97.252 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Antelope

When: January 11, 3:00 AM CST to January 12, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Antelope forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.177, -98.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Wayne

When: January 11, 5:00 AM CST to January 12, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.209, -97.119 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Thurston

When: January 11, 5:00 AM CST to January 12, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Thurston forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.158, -96.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Cuming

When: January 11, 5:00 AM CST to January 12, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Cuming forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.916, -96.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Pierce

When: January 11, 6:00 AM CST to January 12, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Pierce forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.264, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Madison

When: January 11, 6:00 AM CST to January 12, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.917, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Platte

When: January 11, 6:00 AM CST to January 12, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Platte forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.571, -97.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Colfax

When: January 11, 6:00 AM CST to January 12, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Colfax forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.574, -97.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Stanton

When: January 11, 6:00 AM CST to January 12, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Stanton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.917, -97.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Burt

When: January 11, 7:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Burt forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.852, -96.329 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Temperatures below zero and northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph caused wind chill values to drop to 20 below to 25 below zero for several hours during the evening of 1/11. Winds decreased after that causing wind chill values to moderate somewhat.

Cold/Wind Chill, Dodge

When: January 12, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Dodge forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 41.578, -96.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Temperatures below zero and northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph caused wind chill values to drop to 20 below to 25 below zero for several hours during the early morning hours of 1/12.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Winter Weather, Lancaster	2011-01-10	62	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Cold/Wind Chill: Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, January 2011

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: 268207, 268208, 268209, 268211, 267246, 267247, 267248, 267250, 267251, 267253, 267254, 267249, 268206, 268210, 268567, 267252, 268212, 268213, 268222, 268223, 268225, 268214, 268215, 268216, 268217, 268218, 268219, 268220, 268221, 268195, 268192, 268193, 268194, 268201, 268202, 268203, 268196, 268197, 268198, 268199, and more.