A strong storm moved through the region, bringing mixed wintry precipitation, heavy snow, and very strong winds. The storm created widespread blizzard conditions and 6 to 12 inches of snow.
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 OAX wrote it up.
A strong storm moved through the region, bringing mixed wintry precipitation, heavy snow, and very strong winds. The storm created widespread blizzard conditions and 6 to 12 inches of snow. 24 hours of freezing fog, freezing rain, and a wintry mix led up to the blizzard, which compounded travel problems.
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 Feb 23, 11:23 AM CST, 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
1123 AM CST Sat Feb 23 2019
.SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday)
Issued at 345 AM CST Sat Feb 23 2019
...Will Omaha Break Their December-February Snowfall Record
Saturday???...
Forecast concerns through tonight will continue to be the mixed
precipitation...the location of the heavy wet snow...and strong
wind gusts that promote blizzard/whiteout/near whiteout
conditions.
The latest surface map has the surface low around 1000MB in
southeast Colorado. Locally, the freezing line is around Omaha to
north of Lincoln. Rain continues to push across the southeast
portion of the forecast area and the more substantial freezing
rain lifted northeast with a leading shortwave. Most of the liquid
equivalent reports of the freezing rain were between 0.04 and
0.15". There is a lull across northeast and parts of east central
Nebraska with fog....and patchy freezing drizzle before the third
round of precipitation begins.
Snow has been falling in the Denver area since Friday afternoon with
this system and through midnight they had 6.8 inches of snow.
This will be the system heading our way over the next 12hrs.
Water vapor satellite imagery/heights and lightning show we had
some lightning near Clarinda, IA around 1am with lightning still
in northern Missouri at 330am. Lighting was also noted on the
northeast side of the closed h5 low pressure area across the
Oklahoma Panhandle. This next area of negative lifted index values
does rotate into southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa this
afternoon around 21Z, when we expect some of our peak snowfall
rates.
Converging solutions...Trend analysis since Wed shows that the NAM
has steadily shifted its band of heavy snow from northeast Kansas
and northwest Missouri toward the I80 corridor and broadening the 6
inch area/increasing the max amounts to 12 to 15 inches. The GFS has
steadily shifted its band of heavy snow from northeast Nebraska and
northwest Iowa farther southeast toward the I80 corridor and is
fairly close in placement with the NAM/12ZEC/GFS FV3/Canadian and
has also a broad area of 6+ inches. These solutions limit the
snow at Norfolk and at Falls City. The new EC is now at least a
county or two farther south limiting Omaha to 1 to 3 inches of
snow with the 6+ area more around BIE to RDK and Clarinda. The 06Z
runs of the NAM/GFS are still consistent with our snow total
forecast going out with this package.
Through 00Z, there is good model agreement the closed h5 low over
the Texas Panhandle will track northeast to northwest Missouri by
00Z, quickly moving across Iowa by 06Z. The surface low takes a
similar track deepening to around 995mb in northeast KS at 21Z and
992mb in eastern Iowa. Surface winds begin to strengthen around
16Z with 40kt gusts increasing around 21Z. We see strong support
at the upper level jet level, the mid levels, and the low levels
as the snow (heavy at times with convective elements) overspreads
the area through 00Z. There is a pronounced trowel which will
work to enhance lift/rates and frontogenesis. CSI is present and
upright convection is not too far away. Peak snowfall rates will
range from 1 to 3 inches per hour. The warm temperatures in the
southeast part of the forecast will keep the precipitation
liquid/wintry mix before switching to all snow by early evening.
Made adjustments to increase QPF with total QPF generally from .5
to 1.2". This translates to a band of heavy snow 6 to 10 inches 60
to 80 mile wide band along the I80 corridor. Some ice
amounts...generally .1" or less with the winter weather advisory
still in effect. Northwest of the blizzard warning, general snow
amounts of 1 to 4".
Omaha needs 7.5" and Lincoln needs 8.3" to break their all-time
December-February snowfall record and both have a chance! Our
snow climatology says on average, we measure snow around 20 days
of the year and we are already at 26 this year. Typically we get
6" of snow in one day once every 2 years. We did receive over 6
inches in 2 days already this years. If the forecast pans out...we
may break this record.
The winds will become an issue strengthening around 16 to 21Z
with wind gusts 35 to 45kts. The wind gusts continue overnight.
The freezing rain and the wet snow will work against true blizzard
conditions. With the falling snow should see 1/4 to 1/2mi and as
the event goes on the snow will be blowing and drifting
more...thus will leave the blizzard warning in place.
The combination of freezing rain...snow and the winds will lead to
dangerous travel conditions and increase the potential for power
outages through tonight.
The winds gradually decrease Sunday afternoon as surface high
pressure builds in, so any blowing and drifting should abate. Sunday
night through Monday, low level flow across the western Plains
increases from the south with a baroclinic zone and snow developing
from western Nebraska across South Dakota within a shortwave in the
flow. Northern Nebraska may catch part of this storm system before
it shoots eastwards into Iowa.
.LONG TERM...(Monday night through Friday)
Issued at 345 AM CST Sat Feb 23 2019
Still a cold pattern through the week with well below normal
temperatures. Some periodic snow chances, especially next Friday.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon)
Issued at 1123 AM CST Sat Feb 23 2019
Blizzard conditions will affect KOMA and KLNK late this afternoon
through evening with LIFR ceilings and visibilities and wind gusts
of 40-50 MPH from the northwest. While not as severe,
deteriorating conditions are also expected this afternoon at KOFK.
Precipitation should move east of the area by midnight with
gradually improving ceilings and visibilities. Winds will remain
strong from the northwest.
&&
.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for NEZ015-033-034-
043>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093.
Blizzard Warning until 3 AM CST Sunday for NEZ015-033-034-
043>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093.
Winter Weather Advisory until 3 AM CST Sunday for NEZ011-012-
016>018-030>032-042.
IA...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for IAZ043-055-056-
069-079-080-090-091.
Blizzard Warning until 3 AM CST Sunday for IAZ043-055-056-069-
079-080-090-091.
&&
SHORT TERM...Zapotocny
LONG TERM...Zapotocny
AVIATION...MeadHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 1111 AM CST Sat Feb 23 2019 NEZ011-012-016>018-030>032-042-240715- Knox-Cedar-Antelope-Pierce-Wayne-Boone-Madison-Stanton-Platte- 1111 AM CST Sat Feb 23 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Nebraska. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Light snow today with 1 to 3 inches of additional snowfall. Winds gusting 35 to 45 mph late this afternoon into tonight. This will be on top of some ice that fell Friday night. The strong winds will create some blowing and drifting of snow and reduced visibilities. A winter weather advisory remains in effect through early Sunday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday There will be a few additional chances for snow next week. Wind chill temperatures may drop to 10 to 20 below zero Monday and 10 to 15 below zero Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report ice and snowfall amounts to the National Weather Service in Omaha. IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ015-033-034-043>045-050>053- 065>068-078-088>093-240715- Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont- Page-Thurston-Cuming-Burt-Colfax-Dodge-Washington-Butler-Saunders- Douglas-Sarpy-Seward-Lancaster-Cass-Otoe-Saline-Jefferson-Gage- Johnson-Nemaha-Pawnee-Richardson- 1111 AM CST Sat Feb 23 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest Iowa...west central Iowa...east central Nebraska...northeast Nebraska and southeast Nebraska. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Precipitation will ramp up today, becoming intense mid to late afternoon as moderate to heavy snow develops and continues this evening. A light glaze could occur on untreated surfaces before the precipitation transitions to all snow. Northwest winds increase with gusts 30 to 50 mph. The snow will be heavy with some 4 to 12 inch amounts with ice underneath. Locally heavier snowfall amounts will be possible. Blowing and drifting could make travel extremely difficult if not impossible by early Saturday evening. Power outages could occur. A Blizzard Warning will be in effect from noon Saturday until early Sunday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday There will be a few additional chances of light snow next week, as the active and cold weather pattern lasts into the beginning of March. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report ice and snowfall amounts to the National Weather Service in Omaha.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 blizzard, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Nearby counties reported one quarter mile visibility and wind gusts 35 to 50 mph which created whiteout conditions. 4 to 8 inches of snow was reported across the county.
Nearby counties reported one quarter mile visibility and wind gusts 35 to 50 mph which created whiteout conditions. 4 to 8.5 inches of snow was reported across the county.
One quarter mile visibility and wind gusts 35 to 50 mph created whiteout conditions. 4 to 8 inches of snow was reported across the county.
One quarter mile visibility and wind gusts 35 to 50 mph created whiteout conditions. 3.4 to 8 inches of snow was reported across the county.
Nearby counties reported one quarter mile visibility and wind gusts 35 to 50 mph which created whiteout conditions. 4 to 6.5 inches of snow was reported across the county.
One quarter mile visibility and wind gusts 35 to 50 mph which whiteout conditions. Up to 4.5 inches of snow was reported across the county.
One quarter mile visibility and wind gusts 35 to 50 mph which whiteout conditions. Up to 6 inches of snow was reported across the county.
Observers reported 3 to 4 inches of snow across the county. Nearby counties reported blizzard conditions with one quarter mile visibility.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, February 2019
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: 808676, 808677, 808678, 808679, 808680, 808681, 808682, 808683.