A storm system moved out of the southern Rockies bringing a prolonged period of snow to western and north central Nebraska beginning during the early evening on February 20th through the overnight hours on February 21st. Snowfall totals ranged from around eight inches across portions of west central Nebraska into eastern portions of north central Nebraska to near 12 inches in Hayes and Frontier…
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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 storm system moved out of the southern Rockies bringing a prolonged period of snow to western and north central Nebraska beginning during the early evening on February 20th through the overnight hours on February 21st. Snowfall totals ranged from around eight inches across portions of west central Nebraska into eastern portions of north central Nebraska to near 12 inches in Hayes and Frontier county in southwest Nebraska.
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 Feb 20, 2:51 PM CST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 251 PM CST WED FEB 20 2013 .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 250 PM CST WED FEB 20 2013 VERY LIGHT SNOW HAS LIFTED THROUGH PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA WITH FIRST BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW EXITING NORTHWEST KANSAS INTO SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. MSL DATA SHOWED SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGHS PRESSURE ACROSS MINNESOTA INTO IOWA WITH LOW PRESSURE ACROSS COLORADO INTO NEW MEXICO. THIS CREATING A PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS NEBRASKA. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATED CENTER OF UPPER LOW ACROSS CENTRAL ARIZONA. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 250 PM CST WED FEB 20 2013 WINTER STORM TO IMPACT WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THE STORM TRACK REMAINS FAIRLY CONSISTENT. MODEL CONSENSUS INDICATES THE H7 UPPER LOW CENTER TO TRACK FROM THE FOUR CORNERS 00Z THURSDAY... TO NEAR THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE BY 12Z THURSDAY...THEN MAKING A SHARP TURN NORTHEAST INTO NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS BY 00Z FRIDAY AND EVENTUALLY FAR WEST CENTRAL IOWA BY 12Z FRIDAY. A DOWNSTREAM RIDGE WILL ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO TAKE ON A NEGATIVE TILT THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT...WHICH IS FAVORABLE FOR MOISTURE TRANSPORT AND AND A PRONOUNCED DEFORMATION ZONE ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF OUR AREA. THE CURRENT TRACK OF THE UPPER LOW STILL CONTINUES TO INDICATE OUR AREA WILL RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT SNOW. THE LEAD DISTURBANCE AHEAD OF EMERGING UPPER LOW WILL PROVIDE FOR MODERATE SNOW DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 2 THIS EVENING. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE. THEN AS THIS DISTURBANCE WEAKENS AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST OVERNIGHT...SNOWFALL RATES SHOULD DIMINISH TO ABOUT 1/2 INCH TO 1 INCHES PER HOUR OVER WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. FOR THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT...GOOD MOISTURE TRANSPORT AND LIKELIHOOD OF A TROWEL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD RESULT IN POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS TO CONTINUE...ESPECIALLY EAST OF AN IMPERIAL THROUGH AINSWORTH LINE. PRESENCE OF ARCTIC AIR IN PLACE WILL PROVIDE A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR DENDRITIC SNOW GROWTH. SNOW TO LIQUID RATIOS WILL INCREASE TO NEAR 15 TO 1 THURSDAY MORNING AND 17 TO 1 THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE INCREASING SNOWFALL RATIO WILL ENHANCE SNOWFALL TOTALS. AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE EAST OF A LINE FROM OGALLALA TO ONEILL AND 4 TO 8 INCHES POSSIBLE WEST OF THIS LINE. THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS AROUND 12 INCHES REMAIN POSSIBLE SOUTHEAST OF A HAYES CENTER THROUGH BROKEN BOW LINE. WINDS WITH THE SYSTEM ARE FORECAST TO BE EASTERLY 15 TO 30 MPH TONIGHT...TURNING NORTHEAST THURSDAY 15 TO 25 MPH. WINDS GUSTS SHOULD NOT BE TOO HIGH GENERALLY NOT EXCEED 30 MPH TONIGHT. THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND AND POTENTIAL FOR A PROLONGED SNOWFALL EVENT UP TO 30-36 HOURS...MAKE THIS A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT SYSTEM. BLOWING SNOW IS EXPECTED TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. THIS IS LIKELY TO BE A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. HAVE CONTINUED THE WINTER STORM WARNING OVER MUCH OF THE AREA WITH A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SHERIDAN COUNTY WITH LESSER SNOW AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 250 PM CST WED FEB 20 2013 12Z FRIDAY AND BEYOND. UPPER LOW SLOW TO EJECT FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS NORTHEAST INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION ON FRIDAY. SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE ENSEMBLES HAVE SLOWED THIS PROGRESSION...THUS WILL INCLUDE A MENTION OF --SN AND -SN THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. NOT SEEING MUCH IN THE WAY OF ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS...BUT WORTH THE MENTION NONETHELESS. TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN COOL ON FRIDAY DUE TO THE EXPECTED DEEP SNOWPACK...WENT AHEAD AND TRENDED THE FORECAST TO THE COOLEST MAV GUIDANCE WHICH SUGGESTS HIGHS OF ONLY THE LOWER 20S EAST OF HIGHWAY 83...WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S TO THE WEST. SHORTWAVE RIDGING TO BUILD ACROSS THE REGION ON SATURDAY...WITH WAA OCCURRING IN THE LOW TO MID LEVELS. H85 TEMPERATURES WARM ABOVE 0C BY 18Z SATURDAY...HOWEVER WITH THE DENSE SNOWPACK WE WILL HAVE TROUBLE REALIZING ABOVE FREEZING HIGHS. AGAIN WILL UNDERCUT GUIDANCE IN AREAS WHERE THE DEEPEST SNOWPACK IS EXPECTED. ATTENTION TURNS TO THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM...WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE SIGNIFICANT. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATES THE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY IN THE GULF OF ALASKA...WITH MODEL DATA INDICATING THE TROUGH DROPPING THROUGH THE PAC NW ON SATURDAY. THEREAFTER...GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THE SYSTEM PUSHING ACROSS THE CENTRAL ROCKIES AND EVENTUALLY ONTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS LATE SUNDAY. GIVEN THAT THE SYSTEM IS STILL IN THE GULF OF ALASKA...THERE REMAINS MINOR DIFFERENCES ON THE TRACK AND TIMING OF THE LOW....NAMELY BETWEEN THE GFS/ENSEMBLES AND THE EC...BUT ALL AGREE THAT AN OCCLUDED SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE CENTRAL PLAINS LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. THE GENERAL IDEA IS THAT THE TRACK OF THE H5 LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS /18Z SUN/ INTO SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA BY 12Z MONDAY. WITH PLENTIFUL COLD AIR IN PLACE...ALL SNOW IS EXPECTED...WITH QPF POSSIBLY EXCEEDING A HALF OF AN INCH UNDER THE DEFORMATION ZONE. SUBSTANTIAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHIN THIS REGION. ADDITIONALLY...LONGER RANGE SOLUTIONS INDICATE H85 WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50KTS EARLY MONDAY...WE MAY HAVE BLOWING SNOW WITH DRIFTING. GIVEN THAT MODELS ARE COMING INTO BETTER AGREEMENT...WILL INCREASE POPS AT AND IN SOME CASES ABOVE 50% ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 250 PM CST WED FEB 20 2013 LIGHT SNOW IS CURRENTLY FALLING AT KLBF...KBBW AND KTIF...WITH THIS ACTIVITY EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD NORTH THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON. THE INTENSITY OF THE SNOW REMAINS LIGHT...WITH ALL AREA METARS REPORTING 5SM OR GREATER...HOWEVER INTO THE AFTERNOON/EVENING HOURS THE SNOW INTENSITY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE...SUCH THAT VISIBILITY MAY BE REDUCED TO 1SM UNDER THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL. GIVEN THE EXPECTED CEILINGS /OVC009/ LATER THIS EVENING AND THE FACT THAT A LONG DURATION SNOW EVENT IS INDICATED BY THE FORECAST MODELS...A PERIOD OF IFR OR LOWER IS ANTICIPATED THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON. MODEL GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT...THUS FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. FOR THE WIND COMPONENT...SOUTHEASTERLY /100-140/ SHOULD PREVAIL THROUGH MUCH OF THE FORECAST PERIOD...WITH GUST POTENTIAL OF 20KTS OR GREATER THROUGH EVENING TONIGHT. WIND SPEEDS WILL BACK OFF SLIGHTLY /LESS THAN 20KTS/ THEREAFTER. ONE FINAL NOTE...-FZDZ HAS BEEN REPORTED THE PAST HOUR AT KIML. IR SATELLITE WITH CONFIRMATION FROM PROXIMITY SOUNDINGS SUPPORT THE PTYPE...BUT SHOW A QUICK CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW. ANY -FZDZ ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA SHOULD BE OVER BY 20Z THIS AFTERNOON. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST /11 PM MST/ THURSDAY NIGHT FOR NEZ035-036-056>059-069>071. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST /5 AM MST/ FRIDAY FOR NEZ005>010-094. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM MST FRIDAY FOR NEZ004. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT CST /11 PM MST/ THURSDAY NIGHT FOR NEZ022>029-037-038. && SYNOPSIS...ROBERG SHORT TERM...ROBERG LONG TERM...JACOBS AVIATION...JACOBS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 245 PM CST WED FEB 20 2013 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-212045- 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- 245 PM CST WED FEB 20 2013 /145 PM MST WED FEB 20 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING WIDESPREAD SNOW TO MUCH OF THE REGION...CONTINUING THIS EVENING AND LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY. SNOW WILL SPREAD FROM SOUTH TO NORTH THIS EVENING...WITH ACCUMULATIONS AMOUNTING TO A COUPLE INCHES FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT...WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL POSSIBLE AT TIMES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SNOW TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON THURSDAY...WITH STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS AMOUNTING TO AS MUCH AS A FOOT ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN FRONTIER COUNTY. NORTH AND WEST...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 10 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION...WITH THE LIGHTER ACCUMULATIONS OCCURRING ACROSS NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA. ANOTHER INTENSE STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS EARLY NEXT WEEK. TIMING AND THE TRACK OF THE SYSTEM IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME...BUT CONFIDENCE IS INCREASING THAT ADDITIONAL SNOW WILL FALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELAY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN NORTH PLATTE. && THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER... HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION...AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NORTHPLATTE MARTIN
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snowfall amounts from 8 to 9 inches occurred across McPherson County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 21st. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Lincoln County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 21st. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 10 to 11 inches occurred across Hayes County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 21st. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 10 to 12 inches occurred across Frontier County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 21st. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Rock County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the early morning hours on February 22nd. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Holt County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the early morning hours on February 22nd. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Blaine County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 22nd. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Loup County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 22nd. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Garfield County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 22nd. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Wheeler County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 22nd. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Logan County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 22nd. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Custer County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 22nd. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Arthur County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 21st. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
Heavy snowfall amounts of 8 inches occurred across Keith County beginning during the early evening hours on February 20th through the evening hours on February 21st. Northeast winds up to 15 to 25 mph also created areas of blowing snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, February 2013
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: 428704, 428706, 428707, 428711, 428712, 428718, 428722, 428724, 428727, 428728, 428729, 428732, 428703, 428705.