A deep surface low pressure, which dropped down to near 988mb, passed just south of the Nebraska/Kansas state line the morning of the 4th. This system, paired with a corridor of strong northerly 50-65 mph just above the surface, drove widespread gusty north-northwesterly winds.
Every event with a place to put it; 33 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.
A deep surface low pressure, which dropped down to near 988mb, passed just south of the Nebraska/Kansas state line the morning of the 4th. This system, paired with a corridor of strong northerly 50-65 mph just above the surface, drove widespread gusty north-northwesterly winds. While peak gusts across the area were mainly in the 50-65 MPH range, a handful of automated sensors measured gusts of 65-70 MPH, peaking in the afternoon-evenings hours between 4-9 PM CST on the 4th. Some of the strongest wind gusts included 70 MPH at the Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport, 68 MPH at the Hastings Airport, and 68 MPH at the Smith Center Airport.
A band of light rain spread from west to east across the area primarily between 11AM to 2PM CST on the 4th, later transitioning to snow and a few areas of sleet between 2-4PM CST. The mix of gusty winds and some isolated and transient heavier snow bands produced a few snow squalls which brought brief periods of near-whiteout conditions to a few local areas. One snow squall impacted the Grand Island and Hastings area between 3-5PM CST, which included stretches along Interstate 80 and Highway 281. A stretch of Highway 81 from Osceola to Geneva and additional portions of Interstate 80 through York were additionally impacted by another snow squall between 5:30-6:30PM CST. Multiple accidents were reported, including one on Interstate 80 near Grand Island resulted in two fatalities. The stretch of Interstate 80 from Grand Island to Lincoln was closed due to the multiple accidents.
The light snow began to clear out of the area between 7-10PM CST as the system pulled off and away to the east. In total, most locations only received mainly a trace up to one inch.
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 Mar 4, 11:44 AM CST, 16 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1144 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Patchy dense fog will continue across mainly south central
Nebraska through the mid-morning hours. Occasional
visibilities of 1/2 mile or less will be possible through
around 10 AM.
- Isolated thunderstorms mainly northwest of the tri-cities will
continue through around sunrise, with hail to the size of
dimes being the greatest concern. Isolated thunderstorms will
be possible again early this afternoon mainly east of highway
81, with small hail again being the main concern (although
winds will also be increasing by this time).
- Winds will begin to crank up across the region by mid to late
morning, with the High Wind warning going into effect at noon
CST. Winds gusts of 60-65 MPH still appear likely (especially
from 3 PM to midnight).
- While overall snowfall totals will be on the light side with
this first system, generally less than one inch for the vast
majority of the area, as rain transitions to snow this
afternoon, near-blizzard like conditions will be possible for
brief periods of time in blowing snow.
- Snowfall will wind down by midnight, but strong wind gusts to
near 60 MPH will remain possible through around noon CST
Wednesday.
- Additional chances for some light accumulating snowfall
continue to appear on tap for Thursday and Friday as the next
system/cold front crosses the plains. Snowfall totals have not
changed much, with the focus aimed across south central
Nebraska where 1 to 3 inches of accumulation appear possible
mainly Thursday night into Friday AM.
- Quieter weather returns for the weekend with warmer
temperatures...possibly peaking in the lower 70s both Monday
and Tuesday of next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 349 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
Showers and thunderstorms moved across the central portion of
the area overnight with small hail observed in several
locations. Additional shower and thunderstorm development is now
evident mainly northwest of the tri-cities early this morning,
with a few small pockets of pea sized hail possible in the
stronger cells. To the southeast of this activity, low clouds
and patchy near-dense fog is being observed across much of south
central Nebraska, with visibilities as low as 1/4 of a mile in
spots. Rather than muddy up the headlines with a brief dense fog
advisory, have opted to cover the fog both in the forecast and
HWO instead for the next few hours.
Overall, a plethora of weather to choose from across the local
area over the next 24 hours. Intense northerly winds on the
northern side of the intensifying low pressure system to our
south will likely be the most impactful, but thunderstorms,
snow, blowing snow, fog and near-blizzard likely conditions
will all likely impact at least parts of the local area over the
next 24 hours. That said, the forecast for the short term has
changed very little, and continued with the same inherited
headlines and hazards across the local area for the next 24
hours...with meso-scale (HRRR/RAP) guidance largely in line with
what was expected, precipitation focused to our west this
morning and to our east this afternoon. The good news is that
once the impactful winter storm pushes east on Wednesday, while
conditions will remain breezy through the afternoon hours,
severe winds and precipitation will have come to and end with
the next system not anticipated to spread its influence across
the local area until Thursday/Thursday night.
Precipitation from this subsequent system Thursday/Thursday
night will largely be associated along an elongated cold front,
providing steady light precip and much less wind than the
system impacting the local area today. That said, the airmass
will be cooler, and that will present the possibility for some
accumulating snowfall mainly Thursday night into Friday morning,
although totals will likely be on the lighter side (there is
roughly a 30-50% chance of 3+ inches of snow focused north of
I-80) and any snow will likely not stick around long as
temperatures quickly rebound to near 50 by Saturday, and
potentially into the upper 60s and lower 70s to start next week.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1136 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
For KGRI/KEAR Airports:
IFR ceilings will raise to low MVFR this afternoon. Scattered
rain will transition to snow this afternoon. This snow will be
heavier at times, with visibility becoming IFR but confidence in
any timing of bands is low. Snow will exit the area late this
evening, with accumulations less than an inch expected. Very
strong NNW winds will continue through the TAF period, with
gusts of 50-55kts this afternoon through the early overnight
hours. Winds will gradually decrease during the morning, with
gusts of 30-35kts by the end of the TAF period. Skies will clear
around sunrise with conditions becoming VFR.
&&
.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...High Wind Warning until noon CST Wednesday for NEZ039>041-
046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087.
Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM CST
Wednesday for NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087.
KS...High Wind Warning until noon CST Wednesday for KSZ005>007-
017>019.
Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM CST
Wednesday for KSZ005>007-017>019.
&&
DISCUSSION...Rossi
AVIATION...DavisHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Hastings NE 341 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 050945- 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- 341 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. A few isolated thunderstorms, some with small hail, will be possible mainly northwest of the Tri-cities through around sunrise. Later today, additional isolated thunderstorms will be possible mainly east of Highway 81. Again, a few of these storms could be on the stronger side with hail as large as nickels being the primary concern. In addition...expect pockets of fog, with visibilities as low as 1/2 a mile...to remain possible across much of south central Nebraska through the mid-morning hours. By mid-morning, expect winds to begin to crank up across the local area, with a high wind warning going into effect for the entire forecast area starting at noon CST. As temperatures then cool along a cold front this afternoon, light snow will be realized from west to east, and this snow combined with intense northerly winds, could result in near-blizzard like conditions at times. As a result, a winter weather advisory goes into effect at 3 PM CST. Please see the latest winter weather advisory and high wind warning statements for additional information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. While winds will be on the decrease Wednesday afternoon and evening, a few wind gusts to near 60 MPH will remain possible through around noon CST Wednesday...when the high wind warning is expected to expire. Another chance for accumulating snow then looks to arrive Thursday evening into Friday morning. Although this does not currently appear to be a major storm, early indications suggest that especially Nebraska portions of our area could perhaps pick up a few inches of snow. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any possible hail that might develop from any spotty thunderstorms today...as well as any significant damage as a result of severe wind gusts over the next 24 to 36 hours. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings Rossi
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Hastings NE 733 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 NEZ041-047>049-062>064-074>077-084>087-041700- Nance-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Hall-Hamilton-York-Kearney-Adams-Clay- Fillmore-Franklin-Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer- Including the cities of Fullerton, Genoa, St. Paul, Central City, Stromsburg, Osceola, Shelby, Polk, Grand Island, Aurora, York, Minden, Hastings, Sutton, Harvard, Clay Center, Edgar, Fairfield, Geneva, Exeter, Fairmont, Franklin, Campbell, Hildreth, Inavale, Red Cloud, Blue Hill, Rosemont, Bladen, Bostwick, Superior, Nelson, Hebron, and Deshler 733 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 Patchy dense fog will be noted through about mid morning across parts of south central Nebraska. Travelers should be prepared rapidly changing visibility at times. Drivers this morning can expect varying conditions, such as some locations with visibility down to one-quarter mile at times, while other spots nearby with higher visbility. Through 11 AM, some of the lowest visibilities will be along Highway 81 from Columbus to Hebron. The fog will rapidly lift later this morning as strong winds move into the area from the northwest. Drive with caution and care if encounter the dense fog. Consider slowing down and look twice as you turn across traffic.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
24 high wind, 9 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Peak wind gusts were based to be near 60 MPH, based on surrounding area observations.
The peak measured wind gust was 62 MPH, recorded by the Ord Airport ASOS.
The peak measured wind gust was 68 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located near Sherman Reservoir.
The peak measured wind gust was 62 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located one mile north-northeast of Gothenburg.
The peak measured wind gust was 70 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located six miles south-southeast of Kearney.
The peak measured wind gust was 63 MPH, recorded by the Holdrege Airport AWOS.
The peak measured wind gust was 63 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located six miles north-northwest of Minden.
The peak measured wind gust was 60 MPH, recorded by the Cambridge Airport AWOS.
The peak measured wind gust was 60 MPH, recorded by mesonet stations located four miles southeast of Huntley and six miles west-southwest of Ragan.
The peak measured wind gust was 58 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located seven miles west of Macon.
Peak wind gusts were based to be near 60 MPH, based on surrounding area observations.
Peak wind gusts were based to be near 60 MPH, based on surrounding area observations.
Peak wind gusts were based to be near 60 MPH, based on surrounding area observations.
The peak measured wind gust was 70 MPH, recorded by the Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport ASOS.
The peak measured wind gust was 68 MPH, recorded by the Hastings Airport ASOS.
The peak measured wind gust was 66 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located six miles west of Cowles.
The peak measured wind gust was 59 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located eight miles north-northeast of Palmer.
The peak measured wind gust was 62 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located two miles southwest of Chapman.
The peak measured wind gust was 58 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located three miles northeast of Shelby.
The peak measured wind gust was 60 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located one mile south-southeast of Aurora.
The peak measured wind gust was 63 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located two miles northwest of Deweese.
The peak measured wind gust was 58 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located three miles west-southwest of Fairmont.
The peak measured wind gust was 67 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located four miles east-northeast of Nelson.
The peak measured wind gust was 63 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located three miles west of Carleton.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch. Accidents were reported in the area, including one on Interstate 80 near Grand Island, which resulted in two fatalities.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
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, Hall | 2025-03-04 | 25 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
| Winter Weather, Hall | 2025-03-04 | 62 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, March 2025
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: 1248744, 1248748, 1248750, 1248751, 1248753, 1248755, 1248758, 1248759, 1248760, 1248763, 1248745, 1248746, 1248747, 1248768, 1248769, 1248774, 1248775, 1248776, 1248778, 1248779, 1248780, 1248781, 1248782, 1248783, 1248787, 1248788, 1248789, 1248790, 1248791, 1248792, 1248793, 1248794, 1248795.