This Friday featured a widespread, albeit fairly low-impact snow event across South Central Nebraska, kicking off what would end up being an active nine days of wintry weather for the region. While nearly the entire 24-county area received at least 1-2, the most concentrated swath of 2-5 focused within counties between Interstate 80 and the Kansas border.
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 GID wrote it up.
This Friday featured a widespread, albeit fairly low-impact snow event across South Central Nebraska, kicking off what would end up being an active nine days of wintry weather for the region. While nearly the entire 24-county area received at least 1-2, the most concentrated swath of 2-5 focused within counties between Interstate 80 and the Kansas border. Greatly contributing to the lower-impact nature of this event were light winds, only averaging around 10 MPH. Per reports from dozens of CoCoRaHS and official NWS cooperative observers, a few of the highest snow totals featured: 5.3 eight miles south of Elwood, 4.5 in Holdrege, 4.4 in Hebron and 4 in Minden. In all three of the Tri Cities, official amounts checked in slightly under 3.
Timing-wise, this event was firmly centered on the morning hours, as the majority of accumulating snow got underway within a few hours before sunrise and peaked in intensity 7-11 a.m. while gradually letting up/ending from west-to-east. Some places saw additional very light snow/flurries in the afternoon, but the entire area was essentially snow-free by 4 p.m. In the mid-upper levels, forcing was keyed mainly by the passage of a low amplitude shortwave trough embedded within quasi-zonal flow, along with an associated broad zone of modest lift/saturation. At the surface, a strong Arctic high pressure axis extended southward into Nebraska from the Dakotas, keeping winds on the light side and temperatures quite cold, with daytime highs only around 15 F. Interestingly, despite such cold temperatures, this was a surprisingly wet (not fluffy) snow.
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 Feb 14, 11:15 PM CST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1115 PM CST Thu Feb 14 2019
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 345 PM CST Thu Feb 14 2019
The main concern in the short term is the snow for Friday. The
potent arctic cold front plowed through the region this morning
and it has been a struggle to keep up with temperatures. Forecast
was generally too high and all of the guidance was too high with
temps as well. Thus have taken things cooler faster early tonight
before clouds cover the whole area. Gusty north winds will
diminish during the evening.
The cold is here...and it's moving in for a while. Lows tonight
are forecasted to be in the single digits and teens.
The main focus of the forecast has been tomorrow's snow. Consensus
among the surrounding offices was to increase snow ratio's and
blend QPF. The latest guidance has indicated the chance for higher
snowfall totals across the area and snow totals for the forecast
crept slightly higher. Expected the snow to develop from west to
east during the early morning hours on Friday, but feel the
majority of the area will see the bulk of the snow during the
daylight hours...especially the morning hours. Expanded the winter
weather advisory to include the whole forecast area, even though
the farthest southwest will likely only see an inch to 2.
Mentioned that snow totals crept upward...generally along and
northeast of a line from Lexington, NE to Osborne, KS could see 2
to 5 inches with some locally higher totals possible in bands.
Winds will be light as the surface high slides southward...so this
snow will be light and fluffy and relatively easy to measure. It
could impact the morning and afternoon commute.
Snow will end Friday afternoon/early evening. Lows Friday night
will be in the single digits to teens.
.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday)
Issued at 345 PM CST Thu Feb 14 2019
This continues to be an active forecast with multiple chances for
snow, but it will also be cold.
Saturday will be the next chance for snow. Another disturbance
moves in from the west and precipitation will begin Saturday
afternoon and persist in the the evening and overnight hours. The
main influence of the PV disturbance will be for northern
Nebraska...so currently expect the highest snowfall totals for
central and northern Nebraska. Despite lack of saturation through
the column, feel that low level saturation is cold enough to keep
snow vs. freezing drizzle in the forecast. Generally along and
north of the interstate could see a trace to 2 inches.
The next best chance for precipitation will be Monday night
through Wednesday as a strong disturbance moves across the area.
It is too early to determine snow amounts, but it is a period to
watch.
Temperatures will remain cold through the end of the
forecast...below normal. Highs will be in the teens and 20s.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 06Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 06Z Friday)
Issued at 1108 PM CST Thu Feb 14 2019
Snow will be the main impact to the TAFs this morning. Moderate to
heavy snow will lower vis to LIFR conditions for at least a few
hours this morning and around midday expect vis and ceilings to
improve to IFR. Snow should taper off in the afternoon which
should allow vis and ceilings to rise to MVFR. 3 to 4 inches of
snow is forecast for the TAF sites.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Winter Weather Advisory from 3 AM to 6 PM CST Friday for
NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087.
KS...Winter Weather Advisory from 3 AM to 6 PM CST Friday for
KSZ005>007-017>019.
&&
SHORT TERM...Billings Wright
LONG TERM...Billings Wright
AVIATION...BedaHazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Hastings NE 959 PM CST Thu Feb 14 2019 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 151200- 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- 959 PM CST Thu Feb 14 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Minor flooding is occurring along the Platte River in east- central Hall County due to an ice jam. Please see the Flood Advisory for detailed information. Snow will begin late tonight moving from west to east across the area. The main impact from snow will be Friday. Please see the latest Winter Weather Advisory for more details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Snow will continue to spread across the outlook area Friday morning with the heaviest snow expected during the morning into early afternoon. The snow may affect the morning commute. Snow accumulations of 1 to 5 inches are possible with the higher amounts along and northeast of a line from Lexington, NE to Osborne, KS. Winds will be light during the snowfall. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the whole forecast area, please see the Winter Weather Advisory for more information. Minor flooding is expected to continue along the Platte River in east-central Hall County due to an ice jam. Please see the Flood Advisory for detailed information. Snow will again be possible across south central Nebraska on Saturday with snow amounts of a trace to 2 inches mainly along and north of I-80. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A snowfall total of 5.3 inches occurred 8 miles south of Elwood.
A snowfall total of 3.0 inches occurred in Edison.
A snowfall total of 4.5 inches occurred in Holdrege.
A snowfall total of 4.0 inches occurred in Minden and 2 miles east-northeast of Axtell at NTV studios.
A snowfall total of 2.9 inches occurred at Kearney Regional Airport.
A snowfall total of 2.7 inches occurred at the Hastings NWS office.
A snowfall total of 3.5 inches occurred in Clay Center.
Based on snowfall reports from nearby counties and NOHRSC snowfall analysis maps, most of Harlan County likely received 2-4 of snow.
A snowfall total of 4.4 inches occurred in Hebron and 3.0 inches occurred in Hubbell.
A snowfall total of 3.0 inches occurred in Geneva.
A snowfall total of 2.8 inches occurred at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island.
A snowfall total of 3.5 inches occurred 5 miles south-southeast of Hildreth.
A snowfall total of 2.5 inches occurred four miles east of Red Cloud.
A snowfall total of 3.0 inches occurred in Superior.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, 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: 806344, 806710, 808918, 806453, 806713, 806716, 808920, 808969, 806346, 806454, 806715, 808970, 808971, 808972.