For the third time in five days, South Central Nebraska saw a moderate snow event, this one peaking in intensity on the late afternoon-evening of Tuesday the 19th and lingering into the morning of Wednesday the 20th before ending. On a positive note, in most areas this one again only featured modest-impacts, with accumulations primarily only in the 2-5 range, and blowing/drifting held to a…
Every event with a place to put it; 21 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.
For the third time in five days, South Central Nebraska saw a moderate snow event, this one peaking in intensity on the late afternoon-evening of Tuesday the 19th and lingering into the morning of Wednesday the 20th before ending. On a positive note, in most areas this one again only featured modest-impacts, with accumulations primarily only in the 2-5 range, and blowing/drifting held to a relative minimum thanks to easterly winds only averaging (at most) 10-15 MPH. However, this event was unfortunately marred by a deadly multi-vehicle accident along Interstate 80 in Hamilton County that actually occurred around the time of the very last flurries on the morning of the 20th. An Indiana man (a passenger in a Jeep) sustained fatal injuries from an 11-vehicle pileup between the Giltner and Aurora exits, mostly involving semi trucks. The State Patrol attributed slick road conditions to the accident.
Focusing more specifically on snowfall totals, some of the highest per dozens of CoCoRaHS and NWS cooperative observers featured 5.7 at Greeley, 5.5 near Genoa, 5.1 at Ord and 4.6 at St. Paul. However, amounts over 4 were the exception across the 24-county as a whole, with most places (including the Tri Cities) tallying between 2.5 and 4.0. Timing-wise, the vast majority of accumulation occurred between 5 p.m. on the 19th and 5 a.m. on the 20th, with only pockets of light snow/flurries lingering through mid-morning before ending. In the mid-upper levels, this event was driven by a potent shortwave trough swinging north-northeast through the Central Plains, along the front-side of a larger-scale, high-amplitude trough anchored over the Rockies. At the surface, temperatures averaged 15-20 F during most of the snow, with the aforementioned, relatively-light easterly winds fostered by return-flow around the western fringes of an expansive ridge centered over the northeastern United States.
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 19, 11:35 AM CST, 3 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1135 AM CST Tue Feb 19 2019
.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 412 AM CST Tue Feb 19 2019
An upper level low across the desert southwest will begin to
spread its influence across the local area later today. Expect
cloudy skies and a few flurries around this morning to transition
in to more steady snow by late afternoon as lift ahead of this
system begins to become more widespread. With the steadier snow
expected to spread north across the local area late this
afternoon, kept the previous segmentation for our headlines as
our KS and southern NE counties will be most affected
first...spreading north of Highway 6 during the very late
afternoon or evening hours. Did increase snowfall totals for most
areas per latest model and WPC guidance...which will likely push
areas east of highway 281 into winter storm warning criteria.
While there was some debate on how far south to go with the
warning...opted to hoist the warning only across portions of south
central Nebraska where the totals look the highest...but fully
recognize that this warning may need to be expanded a row of
counties in either direction (south or west) depending on how the
system evolves later today.
Continue to expect the heaviest and most widespread snowfall to
peak during the mid to late evening hours...before slowly tapering
off around daybreak Wednesday. When all is said and done...would
not be surprised to see most areas get snowfall totals in the 4-6
inch range...with some isolated higher totals due to the drier
nature of this snow associated with the high SLRs.
Temperature wise...have seen few spots briefly clear out this
morning allowing temps to tank...but think most of the area will
continue to remain mostly cloudy throughout the day...helping to
limit high temperature potential...with most locations topping out
near the 20 degree mark as the snow begins to set in. While we
should see fairly widespread and robust snowfall totals with this
system...the one piece of good news is the relatively light winds
that are expected...which should reduce the chances for any
blowing or drifting snowfall.
.LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday)
Issued at 412 AM CST Tue Feb 19 2019
As todays weather system lifts northeast and into the Great Lakes
region Wednesday...expect snowfall to taper off during the morning
hours with only flurries likely persisting through around noon.
Thereafter...an unsettled and cool weather pattern is forecast to
remain in place across the local area with long range outlooks
continuing to indicate high probabilities for below normal
temperatures continuing through at least the end of the month.
Behind todays system...expect the next major weather producer to
emerge out of the Rockies late Friday through Saturday...spreading
another good chance for widespread precipitation across the local
area. While this system will be marginally warmer...with the
potential for light rainfall across our southern counties at the
onset of precipitation Friday...expect mostly snowfall to impact
the local area to start the weekend as the main upper low lifts
northeast across Kansas on Saturday. While there is still plenty
of time for the track of this next low to change...at the moment
things are looking pretty favorable for another significant winter
storm to generate widespread snowfall across much of the local
area...with strong banding on the northern side of the low
potentially resulting in significant snowfall accumulations across
at least portions of the local area. Will continue to monitor
this system as it appears to be the most significant event
through the extended periods with periodic additional chances for
light snow expected in its wake across at least portions of the
local area through next Tuesday.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 18Z Wednesday)
Issued at 1129 AM CST Tue Feb 19 2019
Clouds continue to lower through MVFR and will become IFR later
tonight as the snow moves through the area. The low clouds and
snow will come to an end late tonight or maybe Wednesday morning.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to 9 AM CST
Wednesday for NEZ041-048-049-063-064-076-077-086-087.
Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 9 AM CST
Wednesday for NEZ039-040-046-047-060>062-072>075.
Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM CST
Wednesday for NEZ082>085.
KS...Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM CST
Wednesday for KSZ005>007-017>019.
&&
SHORT TERM...Rossi
LONG TERM...Rossi
AVIATION...JCBHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Hastings NE 319 AM CST Tue Feb 19 2019 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 200930- 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- 319 AM CST Tue Feb 19 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. An approaching winter storm will spread snowfall across the region this afternoon and evening. Expect widespread snowfall totals of 3 to 5 inches...with higher amounts anticipated generally along and east of Highway 281. Please see the latest winter weather advisory and warning messages for additional details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Multiple chances for light snow are expected through the extended periods. A significant winter storm may impact the local area Friday night through Saturday, and this time period will need to be monitored closely. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter reports of snowfall amounts are always appreciated. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings Rossi
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
21 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A snowfall total of 5.5 inches occurred 2 miles west of Genoa and 4.0 inches occurred in Belgrade.
A snowfall total of 4.0 inches occurred in Hubbell and 3.8 inches fell in Hebron.
A snowfall total of 3.8 inches occurred three miles northeast of Shelby and 3.4 inches fell in Osceola.
A snowfall total of 3.6 inches occurred three miles north of York, 3.5 inches fell two miles west of Gresham, and 3.0 inches fell in Bradshaw.
A snowfall total of 4.0 inches fell four miles south of Shickley and 3.5 inches occurred in Geneva.
A snowfall total of 5.0 inches occurred two miles west of Palmer.
A snowfall total of 5.7 inches occurred in Greeley.
In Ord, a snowfall total of 5.3 inches was measured by the Emergency Manager and 5.1 inches was measured by a cooperative observer. A cooperative observer near Arcadia reported 4.0 inches.
A snowfall total of 4.6 inches occurred in Saint Paul.
A snowfall total of 4.1 inches occurred in Miller, 3.3 inches fell in Kearney, and 2.7 inches occurred in Ravenna.
A snowfall total of 3.7 inches occurred at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport.
A snowfall total of 4.4 inches occurred in Loup City.
A snowfall total of 3.1 inches occurred six miles east southeast of Clay Center and 3.0 inches fell in Clay Center.
An Indiana man (a passenger in a Jeep) sustained fatal injuries from an 11-vehicle pileup (mostly involving semi trucks) on eastbound Interstate 80 between Giltner and Aurora, near mile marker 328. The crash occurred around 9:10 a.m., around the time the last light flurries of the snow were ending. In addition to the fatality, two other non life-threatening injuries occurred. The State Patrol attributed slick road conditions to the accident, which closed the eastbound lanes for about three hours. |Based on snowfall reports from nearby counties and NOHRSC snowfall analysis maps, most of Hamilton County likely received 2-4 of snow.
A snowfall total of 5.0 inches occurred in Superior.
A snowfall total of 3.6 inches occurred four miles southwest of Blue Hill.
A snowfall total of 3.0 inches occurred in Holdrege.
A snowfall total of 3.1 inches occurred at the Hastings NWS office.
A snowfall total of 3.5 inches occurred in Minden.
A snowfall total of 3.0 inches occurred in Franklin.
Based on snowfall reports from nearby counties and NOHRSC snowfall analysis maps, most of Harlan County likely received 2-4 of snow.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather, Hamilton | 2019-02-19 | 29 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
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: 806746, 806753, 806760, 806767, 806774, 809001, 806739, 806740, 806741, 806742, 806763, 806768, 806771, 808917, 809003, 806765, 806773, 808931, 808932, 808933, 809004.