Blizzard — Blaine, Nebraska

2024-03-24 to 2024-03-26 · Blaine, Nebraska

Event narrative

General public located in Dunning reported a storm total snowfall of 8.0 inches. Freezing rain and sleet began during the evening hours on March 24th and transitioned to heavy snow during late evening hours, continued into the daytime hours on March 25th. Visibility fell below a quarter mile at times during the early morning hours, through the daytime and evening hours on March 25th. Total snowfall amounts from 6 to 10 inches occurred across Blaine County. Northerly winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts over 50 mph at times occurred during the early morning hours, through the daytime into the evening hours. Blizzard conditions with widespread blowing and drifting and drifts up to 3 feet occurred across much of Blaine County. This caused the closure of several state roads.

Wider weather episode

A winter storm moved into portions of southwest into central Nebraska and eastern portions of north central Nebraska during the evening hours on March 24th through the overnight hours and daytime hours on March 25th. The winter storm brought a period of freezing rain and sleet, followed by heavy snowfall amounts from 6 to 16 inches. The heaviest snowfall amounts as high as 8 to 16 inches fell across portions of Custer, Blaine, Loup, and Garfield County. Northerly winds increased to 30 to 40 mph with gusts over 50 mph at times during the early morning and daytime hours on March 25th. This caused blizzard conditions and drifts up to 6 feet. This also caused the closure of several state roads as well as Interstate 80 and Highway 30.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1162442. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.