Winter Storm — Thurston, Nebraska

2023-12-25 · Thurston, Nebraska

Event narrative

Reports from the public via social media show up to 6 inches of snow fell across the county. Most reports across the northern part of the county were 4-6 inches with 2 to 4 inches of snow falling across the southern part of the county. The highest snowfall report came out of Emerson, measured at 6 inches. Observations out of Sioux City, IA also showed that visibilities ranged from 1/4 to 3/4 of a mile with wind gusts up to 30 mph between 9 am and 12 pm.

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 1148205. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.