Winter Storm — Custer, Nebraska

2014-03-18 · Custer, Nebraska

Event narrative

A winter storm brought heavy snow to the western half of Custer County during the late morning and afternoon hours on March 18th, 2014. A Cooperative Observer in Arnold reported 12 inches of snowfall, while a Cooperative Observer 8 miles west of Callaway reported 11 inches of snowfall. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches were reported across the western half of Custer County. Strong northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusty caused poor visibility and considerable blowing and drifting snow. The poor weather conditions were indirectly responsible for one fatality and one injury in a two vehicle collision on Highway 47 in southwest Custer County.

Wider weather episode

A winter storm brought heavy snow to portions of central and north central Nebraska on March 18, 2014. As the storm system moved east heavy snow bands developed that led to snowfall amounts from 6 to 9 inches in portions of Rock, Blaine, Loup, and Custer counties. The banded snowfall created locally higher snow amounts to 12 inches in western Custer County to include the communities of Arnold and Callaway. Strong northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusty, created significant blowing and drifting snow that led to near whiteouts and drifting snow during the afternoon hours. The combination of blowing and drifting resulted in the closure of Highway 92 from Arnold east to Merna. One fatality occurred indirectly from a rear end collision, where a 57 year old male died.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 496353. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.