Blizzard in Douglas, Nebraska

Area automated observations indicated winds of 40 to 45 mph were common during 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.

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.