Six to ten inches of snow fell on this Tuesday, west of a line from Alma to Hastings to Columbus. Around 5 AM CST, a shield of snow began moving into south central Nebraska from the west.
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.
Six to ten inches of snow fell on this Tuesday, west of a line from Alma to Hastings to Columbus. Around 5 AM CST, a shield of snow began moving into south central Nebraska from the west. Snow expanded across nearly all of south central Nebraska through the morning. The intensity of the snow was mostly light, though, as the precipitation shield in the deformation zone was still organizing. At the onset, snow briefly mixed with rain and sleet in a few spots east of Highway 281. Through noon, snow fall amounts generally ranged from 1 to 2 inches. However, by that time, the precipitation within the deformation zone had become much better organized and snow extended from the Colorado-Kansas border northeast through most of south central Nebraska. The intensity of the snow had increased. Moderate to occasionally heavy snow had developed and that intensity continued throughout the afternoon, with snowfall rates around 1 inch per hour. After 7 PM CST, the intensity of the snow waned and large portions of the snow dissipated, with very little additional accumulation. Snow ended between 11 PM and midnight CST. Areas east of Highway 281 and south of Interstate 80 were affected by the dry slot for most of the event. However, after 4 PM CST, the diminishing southwest edge of the snow shield moved in, resulting in some minor accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Hebron measured the least amount of snow with not even one half inch. As for the areas that received the moderate to heavy snow, the highest accumulations included 10.0 inches at Loup City and Scotia, 9.8 at St. Paul, 8.2 at Grand Island, and 8.1 at Spalding. Numerous locations measured between 6 and 8 inches. Many stations set new snowfall records for the date, including the 8.2 at Grand Island, and 7.1 at Hastings.
Numerous schools cancelled classes for the day along and west of Highway 281 and north of Interstate 80. Some businesses and county courthouses also closed, or closed early. All Central Community College campuses, Hastings College, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney cancelled classes. Snow emergencies were declared in cities and towns. The Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island closed from 430 PM until 6 AM the next morning. That resulted in the cancellation of the American Eagle flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth. Due to heavy snow at Denver, the United Express flights to and from Kearney were significantly delayed or cancelled. Interstate 80 was temporarily closed in both directions between Kearney and York from 7 to 10 PM CST. Due to very low visibility, snow plows were pulled from the streets in Kearney and Grand Island around 5 PM CST. Near blizzard conditions were indicated at the airports, with winds gusting around 35 kt. Some vehicles slid off Highway 281, but overall the number of vehicle accidents reported was low. This may have been due to travel being discouraged. Numerous schools remained closed the next day, and some businesses such as banks, libraries, county courthouses, and some health care clinics were closed or opened late. All Central Community Colleges were closed, and Hastings College remained closed as well.
At 6 AM CST, a stationary front extended from the Great Lakes to Oklahoma to 988 mb low pressure near Pueblo, Colorado. Through the day, this low moved east-northeast across Kansas, arriving at Kansas City by 9 PM CST and filling to 993 mb. In the upper-levels, a longwave trough was over the western United States. A strong shortwave trough was moving through it, over the Desert Southwest. As this trof moved over the Plains, a low formed over Kansas. By 6 PM CST, 500 mb winds had strengthened to 120 kt at Oklahoma City. By dawn the next day, the low was over Wisconsin.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
21 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 8 inches, with the highest reports coming from the east-southeast half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 9 inches, including 8.2 inches recorded in Grand Island.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 9 inches, including 7.6 inches from an observer near the Kearney Airport.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 9 inches, with the highest reports coming from the eastern half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 8 inches, with the highest reports coming from the eastern half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 9 inches, with the highest reports coming from the western half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 5 to 9 inches, with the highest reports coming from the west-northwestern half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 8 inches.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from around 1 inch in the far southeast corner to 6 inches in the northwest.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from around 1 inch in the far southeast corner to 6 inches in the northwest.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 8 inches, including 7.1 inches at the NWS Hastings office located 4 miles north of Hastings.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 5 to 8 inches, with the highest reports coming from the east-southeast half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 10 inches, with the highest report of 10 inches coming from an observer located 4 miles east of Scotia.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 10 inches, with the highest report of 10 inches coming from an observer located in Loup City.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 9 inches, with the highest report coming from the western half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 9 inches, with the highest report coming from the western half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 10 inches, including 9.8 inches coming from St. Paul.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from around 1 inch in the far southeast corner of the county to as high as 6 to 7 inches in the northwest.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 6 to 8 inches, with the highest reports coming from the western half of the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from around 1 inch in the far southeast corner of the county to as high as 6 inches in the northwest.
Storm total snowfall amounts across the county ranged anywhere from 4 to 7 inches, with the highest reports coming from the northwestern half of the county.
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, November 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: 858795, 858802, 858803, 858804, 858805, 858806, 858807, 858808, 858810, 858811, 858812, 858794, 858796, 858797, 858798, 858799, 858800, 858813, 858814, 858815, 858816.