Blizzard — Wayne, Nebraska

2023-12-25 · Wayne, Nebraska

Event narrative

Social media reports of 5-7 inches of snow in the western half of the county, and 3-5 inches of snow in the eastern half of the county. Conditions in the western half of the county likely reached blizzard criteria due to proximity to KOFK.

Wider weather episode

An upper-level trough approached the region from the northwest, amplifying as it ejected out into the northern Plains. At the surface, a strong cold front dove southeastward across the region the evening of 12/24, bringing post-frontal winds of 15-25 knots across eastern Nebraska. Precipitation across eastern Nebraska started as rain and transitioned over to snow from northwest to southeast beginning at 6 am the morning of 12/25. After 12pm on the 25th, a dry slot extended north across far eastern Nebraska bringing an end to the snow. Snow continued to fall across the western CWA, primarily along and west of US-77. The low-pressure system cut off the night of 12/25, with the surface low-pressure drifting south across eastern Nebraska. By the morning of 12/26, snow showers wrapping around the storm center spread across southeast Nebraska bringing additional snowfall. Highest snowfall totals were reported across portions of northeast Nebraska, with snowfall totals ranging from 5 to 7.5 inches. The Norfolk, NE ASOS recorded 3+ hours of blizzard conditions, and additional reports from public and social media confirmed blizzard criteria was met in the counties near the ASOS station as well. The dry air that spread across the eastern 2/3 of the CWA prematurely ended precipitation, resulting in snowfall totals lower than expected.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1148170. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.