Winter Storm — Hayes, Nebraska

2023-01-02 to 2023-01-03 · Hayes, Nebraska

Event narrative

The nearby Imperial ASOS recorded light freezing rain during the morning and afternoon hours followed by snow during the overnight hours into the morning hours of January 3rd. Visibility was as low as a quarter mile at times during the early morning hours. A light glaze of ice from freezing rain preceded the snow. A Cooperative Observer located in Hayes Center reported 5.5 inches of snowfall. Total snowfall amounts across Hayes County ranged from 5 to 8 inches. North winds gusting to 30 mph caused some blowing and drifting. Travel was not advised during the event.

Wider weather episode

A winter storm moved into western and north central Nebraska during the early morning hours January 2nd and continued through the morning hours on January 3rd. The winter storm brought heavy snow to much of western and north central Nebraska, along with freezing rain during the early portions of the event across much of southwest, central, into eastern portions of north central Nebraska. Ice accumulations up to a quarter inch were measured. Heavy snow, with low visibility at times and snowfall amounts from 8 to 18 inches fell across much of the area, with the highest amounts reported in Custer County northward into north central Nebraska. Northerly winds increased to 20 to 35 mph during the later portion of the event, causing blowing and drifting.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1069367. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.