High Wind — York, Nebraska
2025-03-04 to 2025-03-05 · York, Nebraska
Event narrative
Peak wind gusts were based to be near 60 MPH, based on surrounding area observations.
Wider weather episode
A deep surface low pressure, which dropped down to near 988mb, passed just south of the Nebraska/Kansas state line the morning of the 4th. This system, paired with a corridor of strong northerly 50-65 mph just above the surface, drove widespread gusty north-northwesterly winds. While peak gusts across the area were mainly in the 50-65 MPH range, a handful of automated sensors measured gusts of 65-70 MPH, peaking in the afternoon-evenings hours between 4-9 PM CST on the 4th. Some of the strongest wind gusts included 70 MPH at the Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport, 68 MPH at the Hastings Airport, and 68 MPH at the Smith Center Airport.
A band of light rain spread from west to east across the area primarily between 11AM to 2PM CST on the 4th, later transitioning to snow and a few areas of sleet between 2-4PM CST. The mix of gusty winds and some isolated and transient heavier snow bands produced a few snow squalls which brought brief periods of near-whiteout conditions to a few local areas. One snow squall impacted the Grand Island and Hastings area between 3-5PM CST, which included stretches along Interstate 80 and Highway 281. A stretch of Highway 81 from Osceola to Geneva and additional portions of Interstate 80 through York were additionally impacted by another snow squall between 5:30-6:30PM CST. Multiple accidents were reported, including one on Interstate 80 near Grand Island resulted in two fatalities. The stretch of Interstate 80 from Grand Island to Lincoln was closed due to the multiple accidents.
The light snow began to clear out of the area between 7-10PM CST as the system pulled off and away to the east. In total, most locations only received mainly a trace up to one inch.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1248747. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.