Winter Storm — Wheeler, Nebraska

2024-01-08 to 2024-01-09 · Wheeler, Nebraska

Event narrative

A public report on social media located 3 miles west of Ericson reported 9 inches of snowfall. Snow began during the early morning hours and continued through the afternoon hours on January 8th, with blowing snow and visibility as low as a quarter mile at times. Blowing snow with low visibility continued during the evening hours on January 8th into the early morning hours on January 9th. The snow combined with northerly winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to around 45 mph to produce considerable blowing and drifting and near whiteout conditions across Wheeler County. Total snowfall amounts from 5 to 9 inches occurred across Wheeler County. Highway 91 and Highway 281 became nearly impassable during the event.

Wider weather episode

A winter storm moved into portions of southwest, into central and north central Nebraska during the early morning hours on January 8th through the early morning hours on January 9th. The winter storm brought northerly winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph with snowfall amounts from 4 to 9 inches. This caused considerable blowing and drifting and the closure of highway 92. Travel was not advised on many other state roads.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1151042. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.