A cold front was advancing east across central Nebraska around dawn on this Tuesday. Low pressure was along the front over Kansas and was moving east.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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 GID wrote it up.
A cold front was advancing east across central Nebraska around dawn on this Tuesday. Low pressure was along the front over Kansas and was moving east. The front continued eastward through the daytime hours and was at the Iowa border by sunset. The Kansas low moved to the Kansas City area. A broad upper level trough was over the United States, with a potent embedded shortwave trough advancing through the Intermountain West. At the base of this trough, a 120 knot upper level jet streak was ejecting into the Southern Plains. This put the Central Plains in the favorable quadrant for strong and deep upward motion. This system did not have much moisture to work with, so the amount of snow falling around the mid-level portion of the system over western Nebraska was paltry during the previous night and early morning hours. By mid-morning, however, a snow band began organizing from McCook to North Platte to Ainsworth. This snow band increased in size and intensity and advanced into south central Nebraska, appearing to curl around the back side of the mid-level circulation.
Generally, 2 to 6 inches of snow fell along and west of Highway 183. The highest amounts fell along and west of Highway 283. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., heavy snow fell over Furnas and western Dawson counties, along the southern edge of the band. The high snowfall rates and winds resulted in near blizzard conditions. Visibilities were reported near zero over western Dawson County. North winds with sustained speeds around 30 mph were recorded by the automated sites located at the Lexington and Holdrege airports, with peak gusts between 40 and 45 mph. The highest snowfall totals were in and around Gothenburg. A precipitation observer for the state of Nebraska reported over 12 inches, and an article from the Gothenburg Times mentioned 13 inches. The intensity of the snowband rapidly diminished after 2 p.m., as it advanced further across south central 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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 18, 5:38 AM CST, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
638 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY MORNING)
ISSUED AT 1242 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
DETERIORATING CONDITIONS FROM VFR TO MVFR EXPECTED LATER THIS AFTN
AS BAND OF PCPN MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. REGIONAL RADAR MOSAIC
SHOWING AREA OF -SN OVER MOST OF WRN NEB ON BACKSIDE OF SFC LOW
CURRENTLY CENTERED IN ERN KS. EXPECT ACTIVITY TO GRADUALLY SLIDE
EAST THRU THIS AFTN AS THE SFC LOW LIFTS TWD THE UPPER MIDWEST. PCPN
AT TIMES MAY BE -RASN MIX. PCPN ACTIVITY SHOULD BE COMING TO A CLOSE
THEN TWD 06Z TONIGHT.
.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 1138 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
WITH THE MORNING ANALYSIS...THE NAM WAS ABOUT 3MB TOO WEAK ON THE
SURFACE LOW OVER KANSAS. THE RAP SEEMED TO BE DOING A BETTER JOB.
THIS AFTERNOON...THE SURFACE LOW WILL TRACK TO NORTHEAST KANSAS
WITH THE UPPER TROF SWINGING EAST. THE SURFACE WINDS HAVE TURNED
TO THE NORTHWEST WEST OF HEBRON AND YORK AND HAVE INCREASED TO 25
TO 30 MPH SUSTAINED AROUND KEARNEY AND LEXINGTON. TEMPERATURES AT
11AM CDT WERE IN THE MID 30S IN THE WEST TO NEAR 50 IN THE
EAST...WITH FALLING TEMPERATURES BEHIND THE FRONT. A MIX OF
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED...WITH RAIN/RAIN AND SNOW AND SNOW THIS
AFTERNOON DUE TO THE TEMPERATURES. SOME LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
ARE FORECAST...ESPECIALLY TOWARD DAWSON/GOSPER/VALLEY/SHERMAN
COUNTIES.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)
ISSUED AT 350 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON STORM SYSTEM IMPACTING THE AREA TODAY
THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
SURFACE MAP EARLY THIS MORNING HAD A DEEPENING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE
OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS WITH A WARM FRONT EXTENDING ACROSS NORTHERN
IA. WARM AIR ADVECTION/ISENTROPIC LIFT PRODUCING QUITE A BIT OF MID-
LEVEL CLOUD ADVECTING NORTHEAST TOWARD THE REGION PER IR SATELLITE.
OTHERWISE... TEMPERATURES EARLY THIS MORNING WERE IN THE MIDDLE 20S
TO THE LOWER 30S.
FOR TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT TAKING
THE LOW FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS INTO SOUTHERN WI BY 12Z WED. LOOKING
AT INCREASING/THICKENING MID-CLOUD TODAY WITH HIGHS PUSHING UP INTO
THE UPPER 30S TO THE MIDDLE 40S. MAIN DEFORMATION RAIN/SNOW AREA ON
THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE LOW EXPECTED TO EXTEND FROM THE CENTRAL
PLAINS INTO CENTRAL/NORTHEAST MN. MEANWHILE...GENERAL INCREASE IN
ISENTROPIC LIFT AND MOISTURE TRANSPORT IN THE 850-700MB LAYER WILL
BE ENOUGH TO GENERATE RAIN/SHOWER ACTIVITY FROM WEST TO EAST
ACROSS OUR AREA TODAY.
LOOK FOR THE RAIN TO TRANSITION OVER TO SNOW FROM WEST TO EAST AS
THE LOW PUSHES INTO SOUTHERN WI BY WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH DYNAMIC
COOLING THROUGH THE COLUMN ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER
TROUGH/DEFORMATION AREA.
RIGHT NOW...LOOKS LIKE THE TRANSITION FROM RAIN TO SNOW WILL TAKE
PLACE FASTER ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL WI INTO SOUTHEAST MN SOMEWHERE IN
THE 03-05Z TIME FRAME...AND THEN ACROSS THE REST OF THE AREA THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING. EXPECTING 2-3 INCHES ACROSS TAYLOR COUNTY
OVERNIGHT AND 2-2.5 IN THE ROCHESTER/DODGE CENTER/AUSTIN AREA.
APPEARS HEAVIER DEFORMATION PRECIPITATION WILL DISSIPATE/MOVE
NORTHEAST WITH THE LOW AS IT MOVES TOWARD NORTHWEST LOWER MI BY 18Z
WED. SO...LOOKS LIKE AROUND ANOTHER 1-2 INCHES OF SNOW COULD OCCUR
ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL WI //CLARK AND TAYLOR COUNTY// THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH LESS THAN A HALF INCH EXPECTED ELSEWHERE.
SNOW TOTAL ACROSS TAYLOR COUNTY APPEARS TO BE IN THE 3-5 INCH RANGE
FROM TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...SO WILL GO AHEAD HOIST A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THEM VALID 19.03Z THROUGH 19.18Z.
OTHER FACET OF THIS STORM SYSTEM WILL BE GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS
DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. APPEARS WINDS WILL REMAIN BELOW HEADLINE
CRITERIA AT THIS POINT BUT BLUSTERY NONETHELESS IN THE SUSTAINED 15-
25 MPH GUSTING 35 MPH RANGE. SINCE THE SNOW WILL BE ON THE WETTER
SIDE RATHER THAN FLUFFY VARIETY...NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF BLOWING
SNOW IS ANTICIPATED. LOOK FOR COOLER CONDITIONS OTHERWISE...WITH
HIGHS TOPPING OFF IN THE 34-40 DEGREE RANGE.
.LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)
ISSUED AT 350 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS THE LOW PULLS INTO
EASTERN ONTARIO. LOOK FOR NORTHWEST WINDS TO DIMINISH RAPIDLY
THROUGH THE EVENING WITH SKIES CLEARING FROM WEST TO EAST. OVERNIGHT
LOWS ARE EXPECTED TO COOL DOWN INTO THE TEENS AND LOWER 20S.
LOOK FOR A DRY DAY THURSDAY...BUT WITH INCREASING HIGH/MID CLOUDS AS
THE DAY WEARS ON AHEAD OF LOW PRESSURE MOVING OUT OF ALBERTA CANADA
INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS. OTHERWISE...TEMPERATURES WILL BE RIGHT
AROUND NORMAL WITH HIGHS IN THE MIDDLE 30S TO THE MIDDLE 40S.
FOR LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...MODELS ARE BECOMING
MORE CONSISTENT WITH LOW MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND
ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY REGION FOR A CHANCE OF
SNOW...MIXING WITH/CHANGING TO RAIN DURING THE DAY FRIDAY AS
TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE MIDDLE 30S TO MIDDLE 40S. POPS MAY
HAVE TO RAISED SOME CENTERED ON FRIDAY BASED ON INCREASINGLY
CONSISTENT PRECIPITATION SIGNAL.
SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY LOOK DRY BUT COLD AS CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE
SETTLES INTO THE REGION. PLAN ON HIGHS IN THE 20S AND 30S.
PRECIPITATION CHANCES RETURN TO THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY AS
NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT BRINGS ANOTHER MID-LEVEL TROUGH AND WEAK
SURFACE LOW INTO THE REGION. LOOKS LIKE A CHANCE OF ALL SNOW SUNDAY
NIGHT WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE PRECIPITATION REMAINING IN THE FORM
OF SNOW INTO MONDAY. COULD SEE A TRANSITION TO RAIN ACROSS NORTHEAST
IOWA. LOOK FOR HIGHS TOPPING OFF IN THE MIDDLE 20S ACROSS NORTH
CENTRAL WI...AND NEAR 40 ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IOWA.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY MORNING)
ISSUED AT 1242 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
DETERIORATING CONDITIONS FROM VFR TO MVFR EXPECTED LATER THIS AFTN
AS BAND OF PCPN MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. REGIONAL RADAR MOSAIC
SHOWING AREA OF -SN OVER MOST OF WRN NEB ON BACKSIDE OF SFC LOW
CURRENTLY CENTERED IN ERN KS. EXPECT ACTIVITY TO GRADUALLY SLIDE
EAST THRU THIS AFTN AS THE SFC LOW LIFTS TWD THE UPPER MIDWEST. PCPN
AT TIMES MAY BE -RASN MIX. PCPN ACTIVITY SHOULD BE COMING TO A CLOSE
THEN TWD 06Z TONIGHT.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
NEZ040-041-047>049-062>064-075>077-085>087.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ039-046-060-
061-072>074-082>084.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 7PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
NEZ060-039-046-072.
KS...WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
KSZ007-019.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR KSZ005-006-017-
018.
&&
AVIATION...DEE
UPDATE...ZAPOTOCNY
SHORT TERM...DAS
LONG TERM...DASHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 537 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 191045- PHILLIPS-SMITH-JEWELL-ROOKS-OSBORNE-MITCHELL-VALLEY-GREELEY-NANCE- SHERMAN-HOWARD-MERRICK-POLK-DAWSON-BUFFALO-HALL-HAMILTON-YORK- GOSPER-PHELPS-KEARNEY-ADAMS-CLAY-FILLMORE-FURNAS-HARLAN-FRANKLIN- WEBSTER-NUCKOLLS-THAYER- 537 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS MORNING THROUGH TONIGHT. WIND SPEEDS AROUND 30 TO 35 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED...WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST WIND ADVISORY MESSAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES WILL BE EXPECTED FOR NORTHERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA...MAINLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM ELWOOD TO CENTRAL CITY NEBRASKA. SNOWFALL COUPLED WITH STRONG WINDS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY AT TIMES AND MAY CREATE UNFAVORABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NEAR-CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS VARIOUS PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS OF WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. && MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS (ALL LOWERCASE) GUERRERO/BRYANT
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter weather, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The highest storm total snowfall were reported across far western portions of the county in the Gothenburg area, with some reports of totals near one foot. Difficult driving conditions were reported with visibilities down to one quarter to one half mile at times.
The highest storm total snowfall ranged from 3 to 6 inches across the county. NWS Cooperative Observer reports included 6 inches in Cambridge and 4 inches in Wilsonville.
The highest storm total snowfall ranged from 3 to 6 inches across the county. A NWS Cooperative Observer 8 miles south of Elwood reported 4 inches of snow.
The highest storm total snowfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the county.
The highest storm total snowfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the county. A NeRAIN Observer 3 west of Ragan also reported 4 inches of snow.
The highest storm total snowfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the county. A NeRAIN Observer in Miller also reported 3 inches of snow.
The highest storm total snowfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the county. A NWS Cooperative Observer in Minden reported 3.9 inches of snow.
The highest storm total snowfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the county. A NWS Cooperative Observer 2 miles northeast of Upland reported 3 inches of snow, as did a NeRAIN Observer 5 miles south-southeast of Hildreth.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, March 2014
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: 501138, 501139, 501140, 501144, 501145, 501141, 501142, 501143.