Blizzard in Holt, Nebraska

A very strong low pressure system moved out of Colorado the Sunday after Thanksgiving and intensified as it moved northeast across the Western and Northern Plains hampering travel on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Very warm air wrapped up into the system ahead of the storm causing freezing rain to develop across portions of Boyd, Holt, Rock, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, and northeast Custer Counties Sunday afternoon, November 27th, while snow fell across the remainder of the area. By Sunday night, the freezing rain switched over to snow as cold air plunged into western and north central Nebraska. Winds increased significantly Sunday night into Monday morning with zero visibility in snow and blowing snow as northwest winds gusted between 55 and 75 mph. Automated wind observing equipment on wind turbines that sit approximately 232 feet above the ground 5 miles south of Ainsworth recorded wind gusts of 114 mph. Snow accumulations of 8 to 15 inches fell across Boyd, Holt, Keya Paha, Rock, Brown, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Custer, Logan, and northeast Lincoln Counties creating drifts of 8 to 15 feet high in many locations. Snow accumulations of 3 to 8 inches occurred across the rest of the area. Interstate 80 and most secondary roads in the area were closed for 30 to 38 hours. Damage included trees falling on homes and power lines, hundreds of broken power poles and lines, 200-300 center pivot irrigation systems overturned, large motel and highway signs destroyed, windows broken, metal siding on a business ripped away, 50-100 head of cattle died, and a gas station canopy destroyed. As power poles broke, electricity went out. The areas where freezing rain caused ice to accumulate on lines and poles before the extreme winds hit saw power outages of 2 to 10 days. Many travelers were stranded in their vehicles for 12 hours or more after getting stuck in deep snow. Thousands of other travelers spent time in temporary shelters waiting out the storm. There was one indirect death and several indirect injuries due to car accidents, including 2 roll-overs. Areas to the west of this also saw wind gusts of 55 to 75 mph but visibilities remained above 1 mile as snow accumulations were only from a trace to 3 inches.