A spring storm system produced heavy snow across portions of western and north central Nebraska. Rain changed to snow during the evening of April 29th and continued on April 30th.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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 spring storm system produced heavy snow across portions of western and north central Nebraska. Rain changed to snow during the evening of April 29th and continued on April 30th. The heaviest snowfall amounts from 6 to 14 inches fell across the eastern Nebraska Panhandle into the western Sandhills. Northerly winds of 10 to 20 mph reduced visibility to below a mile at times.
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 Apr 29, 2:40 PM CST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 340 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2016 .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 340 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2016 A SLOW MOVING SPRING STORM WILL MOVE NORTH AND EAST TONIGHT ONTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND LIFT EAST ON SUNDAY. A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW WILL BE SEEN WITH COLDER AIR ON THE BACK SIDE TO PRODUCE SNOW OVER THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE AND SANDHILLS. HEADLINES HAVE BEEN ISSUED THAT PROVIDE THE MOST CURRENT DETAILS. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 340 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2016 TONIGHT...THE CENTER OF A STRONG NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO FAR NWRN KS WITH WIDESPREAD RAIN NORTH AND EAST OF THE LOW CENTER. POPS NEAR 100 PERCENT ARE FORECAST. HEAVIEST RAINFALL OVERNIGHT FROM 1.0 TO 1.5 INCHES FCST NEAR AND SOUTHEAST OF A LBF THROUGH BBW LINE. DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL FORECAST TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING...A FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR HAYES...FRONTIER...LINCOLN AND CUSTER COUNTY. COLDER AIR WILL BE DRAWN INTO THIS SYSTEM TONIGHT WITH H85 TEMPS NEAR 0C NEAR AND WEST OF HWY 83. BUFKIT SOUNDING SUPPORT PRECIP TYPE AS SNOW OVERNIGHT FOR THESE AREAS. THE UNCERTAINTY WILL BE IF NEAR SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND WET BULB TEMPERATURES ARE COLD ENOUGH FOR A COMPLETE CHANGEOVER IN SOME AREAS. CONFIDENCE HAS INCREASED HOWEVER THAT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO OCCUR WEST OF A VTN THROUGH NORTH PLATTE AND HAYES CENTER LINE. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TONIGHT OF 2 TO 4 INCHES FORECAST FOR AREAS WEST OF AN OGA THROUGH MULLEN AND CODY LINE. HAVE UPGRADED TO A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR GARDEN/SHERIDAN/ARTHUR/ GRANT/HOOKER AND WESTERN CHERRY COUNTY. ADJACENT COUNTIES TO THE SOUTHEAST ARE IN A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. SATURDAY...THE UPPER CLOSED LOW WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY FROM FAR NWRN KS TOWARD SCTRL NEBR. A WELL DEVELOPED DEFORMATION ZONE WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL REMAIN NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. KEPT DEFINITE POPS THROUGH THE DAY AS SOUNDINGS SHOW SATURATION AND CONTINUED LIFT. THE EASTWARD SIDE OF RAIN OR SNOW TO PUSH EAST OF HIGHWAY 83 THROUGH THE MORNING...THEN BACK FURTHER WEST IN THE AFTERNOON. DAYTIME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS 3 TO 5 INCHES OR HIGHER POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AND ADVISORY AREAS. EXACT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS REMAIN UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME WHICH IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT OF NEAR SURFACE TEMPERATURES SUPPORT OF ALL SNOW. DAYTIME QPFS FCST UP TO AN INCH NORTH OF HWY 2 AND A HALF INCH OR LESS TO THE SOUTH. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY) ISSUED AT 340 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2016 A BLOCKING PATTERN CREATES SOME UNCERTAINTY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. YET MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE SURFACE LOW TO LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS SATURDAY NIGHT AND EXIT EAST ON SUNDAY. IF THE SYSTEM DOES MOVE OUT SLOWER THE CHANCE FOR RAIN AND SNOW COULD LINGER INTO SUNDAY. FOR NOW FORECAST TRENDS TOWARD DRIER WEATHER BEYOND SUNDAY AS THE BLOCK MOVES EAST TO BRING DRIER AND WARMER TEMPERATURES. ON SUNDAY CLOUDS DECREASING BUT REMAINING COOL. TEMPERATURES WILL BE BELOW NORMAL WITH DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE MID 40S TO MID 50S. THE EVENTUAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS MAY RESULT IN TEMPERATURES NEEDING TO BE CUT SOME 5 DEGREES OR MORE COOLER ON SUNDAY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST. SUNDAY NIGHT ENERGY CONTINUES TO UNDERCUT THE UPPER RIDGE THAT CREATES A CHANCE FOR MORE ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTHWEST. THEN BEYOND...DRIER AND WARMER BY MID WEEK AS THE UPPER RIDGE BUILDS EAST WITH DAYTIME TEMPS BACK INTO THE 80S THROUGH FRIDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1222 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2016 MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND CONFIDENCE IS INCREASING WHERE A PROLONGED SLOW MOVING SPRING STORM WILL BRING A MIXTURE OF RAIN AND SNOW THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY. MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS WILL LOWER TO IFR CONDITIONS THIS EVENING...AND DOWN TO LIFR FLIGHT CATEGORIES FOR OVERNIGHT AND BEYOND. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 340 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2016 A STORM SYSTEM TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT WILL BRING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IS LIKELY. LOCALIZED AREAL FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH A FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL NEBRASKA. THE MAIN CONCERN AFTER THE RAINFALL AND SNOWFALL ENDS WILL BE RIVER RISE RESPONSES. RIVER POINTS ALONG THE ELKHORN...NORTH PLATTE... SOUTH PLATTE...AND PLATTE BASINS ARE ALREADY ELEVATED AND RISING AND ARE FORECAST TO RISE ABOVE ACTION STAGE. EVENTUAL MINOR RIVER FLOODING REMAINS POSSIBLE. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING TO 1 AM CDT /MIDNIGHT MDT/ SUNDAY FOR NEZ005-025-036-037-056>058. FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR NEZ038-059-070-071. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING TO 1 AM CDT /MIDNIGHT MDT/ SUNDAY FOR NEZ004-022>024-035-094. && SYNOPSIS...KECK SHORT TERM...ROBERG LONG TERM...KECK AVIATION...KECK HYDROLOGY...ROBERG
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 350 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2016 NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-302100- 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- 350 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2016 /250 PM MDT FRI APR 29 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A SLOW MOVING SPRING STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE NORTHEAST THROUGH THE PLAINS TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. THE SYSTEM WILL PRODUCE A MIXTURE FROM SNOW IN THE WEST TO RAIN IN THE NORTH CENTRAL...AND A MIXTUREOF RAIN AND SNOW ACROSS THE WEST. RAIN WILL MOVE NORTH THIS EVENING AND BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD. AS TEMPERATURES FALL THE RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW IN THE EASTERN PANHANDLE INTO THE SANDHILLS WITH SNOW ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED. A BROAD AREA OF 4 TO 6 INCHES IS LIKELY WITH THE CHANCE FOR HIGHER AMOUNTS. REFER TO WINTER HEADLINES THAT ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE EASTERN PANHANDLE AND SANDHILLS THAT PROVIDES MORE DETAILS ON SNOW TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS. RAINFALL OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS MAY COME WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN. RECENT RAINFALL WILL CREATE INCREASED RUNOFF POTENTIAL IN HAYES...FRONTIER...SOUTHEAST LINCOLN AND CUSTER COUNTIES TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH A FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT. THE TRANSITION FROM RAIN TO SNOW...ALONG WITH FALLING TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE DETEORIATING ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE PANHANDLE AND NORTHWEST TONIGHT. REFER TO THE LATEST FORECAST...HEADLINES AND ROAD CONDITIONS IF GOING OUT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THE SPRING STORM WILL MOVE SLOWLY NORTHEAST CREATE IMPACTS UNTIL SUNDAY WHEN IT IS FORECAST TO EXIT EAST. UNTIL THEN SNOW FALL WILL CONTINUE IN THE WEST WITH SOME ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF. SOME AREAS IN THE NORTHWEST AND SANDHILLS MAY SEE HIGHER SNOW TOTALS BEFORE THE SNOW ENDS SUNDAY. CONSULT THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER BULLETIN FOR LATEST UPDATES AND DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. && GET YOUR WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL...AND CLIMATE INFORMATION AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NORTHPLATTE (ALL LOWERCASE)
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 10 inches across McPherson County. General public reported 10 inches of snowfall located 10 miles east of Tryon. Due to the wet and heavy snow, power outages were common across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 10 inches across the southern half of Sheridan County. A Cooperative observer reported 9 inches of snowfall near Ellsworth.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 12 inches across Garden County. General public reported 12 inches of snowfall located 6 miles south of Lewellen. Due to the wet and heavy snow, power outages were common across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 12 inches across Grant County. General public reported 12 inches of snowfall in Ashby. Due to the wet and heavy snow, power outages were common across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 14 inches across Hooker County. General public reported 14 inches of snowfall located 16 miles southwest of Mullen. Due to the wet and heavy snow, power outages were common across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 9 inches across Arthur County. General public reported 7 inches of snowfall in Arthur. Due to the wet and heavy snow, power outages were common across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 5 to 12 inches across Deuel County. General public reported 12 inches of snowfall located 7 miles northeast of Chappell. Due to the wet and heavy snow, power outages were common across the county.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, April 2016
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: 624741, 624734, 624735, 624736, 624738, 624739, 624740.