Blizzard — Lancaster, Nebraska

2013-03-10 · Lancaster, Nebraska

Event narrative

Area automated observations indicated winds of 35 to 40 mph were common from late morning and into the afternoon hours on the 10th. The combination of the winds and heavy falling snow resulted in considerable blowing and drifting snow and very low visibilities for several hours. These conditions resulted in authorities closing both directions of Interstate 80 for several hours on the 10th from Lincoln west through Lancaster County. The poor road conditions also led to one fatal accident on a state highway.

Wider weather episode

A powerful winter storm moved into the central Plains during the weekend of March 9-10th. The system initially brought warm weather and scattered showers and thunderstorms on the evening of the 8th into the morning of the 9th. As the main upper level storm system emerged on the Plains late on the 9th, a strong cold front moved from northwest to southeast across the area. Precipitation redeveloped behind this cold front associated with the upper level storm system and quickly changed from light rain to light snow during the early morning hours of the 10th. Isolated reports of sleet and light freezing rain were reported as the precipitation changed from light rain to snow, but significant ice accumulations were not reported. The snow, occasionally heavy, then continued through the day on the 10th and ended in the early morning hours on Monday March 11. Also associated with the system were strong northwest winds. Wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph were common during the day on Sunday March 10th leading to considerable blowing and drifting of the falling snow and reduced visibilities. This combination led to numerous traffic accidents and for authorities to close Interstate 80 for a time west of Lincoln in Lancaster and Seward Counties. Most schools were closed on Monday the 11th due to the poor travel conditions. Some of the higher snowfall totals ranged from 8.5 inches at the Naitonal Weather Service in Valley and in Seward, 9 inches at Eppley Airfield in Omaha and also in North Bend, 11 inches was reported in David City, and Fremont recorded 11.5 inches. Generally snowfall amounts of 6 to 11 inches were common with the event in the heaviest band.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 431016. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.