Ice Storm — Dakota, Nebraska

2020-11-09 to 2020-11-10 · Dakota, Nebraska

Event narrative

Freezing rain overnight and through the morning resulted in ice accumulation of a quarter inch, especially on elevated surfaces, including powerlines. Brief power outages were reported. Snowfall developed later morning and through the afternoon, and accumulated to 3.0 inches at Emerson. Slick roadways resulted in several accidents. Two separate accidents resulted in (indirect) fatalities along State Highway 35 northeast of Emerson. The first occurred around 0640CST when a semi truck ran off the highway and struck a creek bank, killing the driver. The second fatal accident occurred shortly after 1500CST when a jackknifing semi trailer collided with the tractor of a second semi on a curve. Property damage costs are rough estimates.

Wider weather episode

Unusual warmth with a week of temperatures mainly in the 70s (even 50s and 60s on November 9 less than a day before this storm) was brought to an abrupt end as a deep trough of low pressure moved out of Rockies and into the Plains. An intense lower- to mid-level frontal zone oozed eastward as a strong jet lifted out across the Plains on November 10, initiating widespread precipitation. Shallow cooling lingered during the late night and early morning hours and led to a period of freezing rain which accumulated from a tenth to a quarter inch, before changing to snow. Snow amounts ranged from 3 to 7 inches.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 928624. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.