Nebraska, 2013

Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Nebraska, January 29 to 30, 2013

January 29 to 30, 2013 · NWS OAX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

An upper level disturbance tracking across the plains caused low pressure to deepen as it tracked from northern Oklahoma into northeast Missouri. Snow, occasionally moderate and even briefly heavy, fell from late on the 29th into the morning hours of the 30th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
3

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 tracking across the plains caused low pressure to deepen as it tracked from northern Oklahoma into northeast Missouri. Snow, occasionally moderate and even briefly heavy, fell from late on the 29th into the morning hours of the 30th. Snow amounts in southeast Nebraska were generally 3 to 6 inches, with around 6 inches reported across much of Otoe county. The snow was accompanied by north winds of 20 to 35 which caused considerable blowing and drifting snow and several hours of poor visibilities. Due to poor visibilities, Interstate 80 was briefly closed west of Lincoln.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Lancaster

When
January 29, 7:00 PM CST to January 30, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Lancaster forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
40.784, -96.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 3 to 5 inches with isolated amounts possibly a little higher were reported across much of Lancaster county. Due to north winds of 20 to 35 mph, the snow and blowing snow caused poor visibilities which closed Interstate 80 west of Lincoln for several hours during the early morning of Jan. 30. The snow and slick roads caused at least 70 accidents in the Lincoln area.

Winter Weather, Seward

When
January 29, 7:00 PM CST to January 30, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Seward forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
40.872, -97.139 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches likely fell across much of Seward county based on surrounding observations, with the heaviest across the southern part of the county. Due to north winds of 20 to 35 mph, the snow and blowing snow caused poor visibilities which closed Interstate 80 west of Lincoln for several hours during the early morning of Jan. 30. Highway 6 near Milford was also closed for a while due to semi-trucks unable to navigate hills in the area.

Heavy Snow, Otoe

When
January 29, 8:00 PM CST to January 30, 8:30 AM CST
Where
Otoe forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
40.649, -96.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nebraska City reported around 7 inches of snow from this storm, with amounts of 5 to 7 inches likely over much of Otoe county.

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nebraska in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, January 2013

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: 422476, 422477, 422475.