Nebraska, 2024

Winter Storm in Nebraska, January 11 to 12, 2024

January 11 to 12, 2024 · NWS LBF · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A winter storm moved into north central Nebraska during the morning hours on January 11th through the morning hours on January 12th. The winter storm brought northerly winds from 15 to 30 mph with snowfall amounts near 6 inches across Wheeler County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LBF wrote it up.

A winter storm moved into north central Nebraska during the morning hours on January 11th through the morning hours on January 12th. The winter storm brought northerly winds from 15 to 30 mph with snowfall amounts near 6 inches across Wheeler County. This caused areas of blowing and drifting.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jan 11, 5:58 AM CST, 5 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 11, 5:58 AM CST, 5 hours 2 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 11, 10:45 AM CST, 15 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1045 AM CST Thu Jan 11 2024

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-121645-
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-
1045 AM CST Thu Jan 11 2024 /945 AM MST Thu Jan 11 2024/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north
central Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Snow will continue to overspread the Sandhills today through
tonight, resulting in light accumulations generally near and north of
Highway 2. Gusty winds may also contribute to blowing snow,
especially in open areas. Be prepared for slick roads and reduced
visibility. Wind chill values will also drop as low as -25 overnight
across north central Nebraska.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Brutal cold sets in Friday night and continues through Tuesday
morning across the forecast area. A Wind Chill Warning is in effect
due to values dropping as low as -50 in northern Nebraska and -35 in
southern Nebraska. Frostbite will be possible in as little as 5 to 10
minutes for exposed skin over the weekend.

Additional snow chances exist essentially each day through Monday.
Minor accumulations or a dusting will be possible Friday night into
Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Please report snowfall amounts to NWS North Platte.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Holt

When
January 11, 11:00 AM CST to January 12, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Holt forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
42.456, -98.784 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Cooperative Observer located in O'Neill reported 6 inches of snowfall and drifts up to 4 feet. Snow began during the late morning hours on January 11th until the early morning hours on January 12th. The snow combined with northerly winds of 15 to 30 mph to produce reduced visibility with blowing and drifting. Total snowfall amounts from 4 to around 6 inches occurred across Holt County.

Winter Storm, Wheeler

When
January 11, 11:00 AM CST to January 12, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Wheeler forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
41.915, -98.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Cooperative Observer located 3 miles west northwest of Ericson reported 6 inches of snowfall. Snow began during the late morning hours on January 11th until the early morning hours on January 12th. The snow combined with northerly winds of 15 to 30 mph to produce reduced visibility with blowing and drifting. Total snowfall amounts around 6 inches occurred across Wheeler County.

Winter Storm, Garfield

When
January 11, 11:00 AM CST to January 12, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Garfield forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
41.914, -98.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

General public located in Burwell reported 4.3 inches of snowfall. Snow began during the late morning hours on January 11th until the early morning hours on January 12th. The snow combined with northerly winds of 15 to 30 mph to produce reduced visibility with blowing and drifting. Total snowfall amounts from 4 to 6 inches occurred across Garfield County.

Winter Storm, Custer

When
January 11, 11:00 AM CST to January 12, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Custer forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
41.394, -99.726 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Emergency Manager in Oconto reported 6 inches of snowfall. Snow began during the late morning hours on January 11th until the early morning hours on January 12th. The snow combined with northerly winds of 15 to 30 mph to produce reduced visibility with blowing and drifting. Total snowfall amounts from 4 to 6 inches occurred across Custer County.

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nebraska in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, January 2024

Sources

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: 1150006, 1151047, 1151048, 1151049.