Hastings, NE

Weather Forecast Office

January 15-16, 2017: Most Significant Ice Storm In 10 Years Strikes The Area

Ice Storm Evolution & Impacts

A strong, slow moving upper level low pressure slid northeast from the New Mexico-Texas-Mexico border region on Sunday, January 15th and Monday, January 16th, bringing the most significant icing event in 10 years to south central Nebraska and north central Kansas.

Thanks to a nose of warmer air just off the surface and freezing temperatures at the surface, the predominant precipitation type during this event was freezing rain. During the latter portions of the event Monday afternoon, enough cold air started pushing east into the area that the precipitation type briefly switched over to sleet/snow before moving out. Any sleet or snow accumulation was minimal.

Much of the NWS Hastings coverage area (click HERE for a map) saw at least 0.10" of ice accumulation, with locations roughly east of a line from Greeley to Beaver City (including north central Kansas) reporting 0.25" or more of ice accumulation. Far southeastern portions of the coverage area saw 0.5" or more.

Surface temperatures hovering right around the freezing mark and an overall lack of winds kept this event from having a signficantly worse impact than it did. Roads were very slick, though main roads were pre-treated. There were no widespread, long lasting power outages, and and overall tree/power line damage was relatively minimal.

The brunt of the storm arrived on a holiday, Martin Luther King Jr Day and several business and schools were already scheduled to be closed for the day. Numerous remaining schools and several churches and businesses also closed. Once the system exited to the east late on January 16th, temperatures dropped well below freezing into the teens and 20s overnight, causing refreezing on outdoor surfaces. Several schools were also closed on January 17th as side roads, parking lots and sheltered areas remained slick during the morning commuting hours. Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island and Kearney Regional Airport were both closed for a period of time on the 15-16th.

Temperatures rebounded into the 35 to 45 degree range on January 17th and melted the ice. Ice melting and falling from trees, power lines and towers created dangerous conditions at times. Ice which fell from a tower at the KSNB television station north of Hastings broke a windshield on a vehicle in the parking lot.

NWS Hastings radar loop from 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 15th - 5:30 p.m.on Jan.16th. The NWS Hastings coverage area is outlined in orange and interstates are in red.

Ice & Precipitation Reports
Nebraska Photos
Kansas Photos

Ice & Precipitation Reports:

In general, ice accumulations across south central Nebraska ranged from 0.10-0.50", with the highest totals across southern and eastern portions. Across north central Kansas, ice accumulations ranged from 0.25-0.75".

Single day precipitation records were broken at both Grand Island and Hastings for January 16th. Grand Island's new record is 0.68", which broke the previous record of 0.30", set in 1932. The new record at Hastings is 0.53", which broke the previous record of 0.35", set in 1980.

Climatologically, January is the driest month of the year across the area, with most locations averaging 0.40-0.60" of precipitation for the month. Moisture was plentiful with this system, with totals of 0.25-1.0" across much of south central Nebraska, and a few higher than that across the south. Across north central Kansas, totals ranged from 1-2".

In this 2-day event, many locations exceeded (some significantly) what they typically see for the ENTIRE month of January!

2-Day (Jan. 15-16) Liquid Precipitation Reports - Please keep in mind these are NOT ice accumulations! The amounts in this table are from NWS Cooperative Observers & automated airport equipment.

Liquid precipitation from across the area.
Click image to enlarge.

Location	Liquid Total (in)
Cawker City, KS	1.84
Beloit, KS	1.55
Ionia, KS	1.51
Lebanon, KS	1.41
Natoma, KS	1.40
Smith Center, KS	1.35
Jewell, KS	1.30
Clay Center	1.30
Logan, KS	1.25
Hubbell	1.23
Naponee	1.22
Geneva	1.20
Red Cloud	1.08
4 SW Blue Hill	1.05
3 NE Shelby	0.97
Osceola	0.97
4 WNW Plainville, KS	0.97
3 N York	0.95
Edison	0.93
6 ESE Clay Center	0.88
Grand Island Airport	0.86
Bradshaw	0.86
NWS Hastings (4 N Hastings)	0.81
Holdrege	0.80
Wilsonville	0.78
St. Paul	0.77
Cambridge	0.73
Hastings Airport	0.68
Minden	0.67
6 NNW Oxford	0.67
Kearney Airport	0.63
8 S Elwood	0.59
Loup City	0.49
6 SSE Lexington	0.48
Ravenna	0.48
Ord	0.47
Greeley	0.38

Nebraska Photos:


Bloomington photo by Rose Salinas	Blue Hill photo by Jessica Cox	Carleton photo by Thayer County EM	Carleton photo by Thayer County EM	Clay Center photo by Kandi Whiteley


Shelby photo by Freddy McKinney	Shelby photo by John McKinney	Minden photo by Tammie Binderup	Lawrence photo by Nick Kliewer	Osceola photo by John McKinney


Grand Island photo by Caitlin Derr	Grand Island photo by Evita Franco	Grand Island photo by Jessica Cook	Guide Rock photo by Monica Montgomery	Hamilton County photo by Pen Sheets


Chester photo by Sarah Dake	Grand Island (1/17) photo by Lina Sutton	Hildreth photo by Emily Wagner	Holdrege photo by Janet Bailey	Ruskin photo by Janyssa Taylor


Heartwell photo by Lacy Fredrickson	Ayr photo by Angi Lovett Schneideler	South of Clay Center photo by Scot Von Spreckelsen	Bruning photo by Justin McGinley	Fairfield photo by Rally Vee


Hampton photo by Kathy Wiarda	Hastings photo by Todd Addleman	Kearney photo by Andrea Scheuffele	Phillips photo by Kyla Trumble	Superior photo by Kimberly Parker


Hastings photo by Kendra Bargen	Hastings photo by Renee DeVaney	I-80 Near Odessa (No fatalities) photo by Scott Tustin	KSNB Hastings Ice Falling From Tower photo by Travis Klanecky	Hastings photo by Mike Moritz


Henderson photo by Brad Best	Holdrege photo by John Thorburn	Red Cloud photo by Katie Ord	Shelton photo by Clifford Thibodeau	York photo by Bryce Danielson


Shelby (1/17) photo by Freddy McKinney	Inavale photo by Wade Gibson.	Aurora photo by Brooke Johnson	Hastings photo by Jamie Williams	Hendley photo by Darla McGahan

Kansas Photos:

Header


Agra photo by Lance Dougherty	Agra photo by Lance Dougherty	Lebanon photo by Emily Roush	Osborne photo by Kaelan Cameron	Osborne photo by Kaelan Cameron


Beloit photo by Jana Fairchild	Beloit photo by Peter Sevilla	Beloit photo by Rachel Grace Miller	Burr Oak photo by Jessica Barnes	Stockton photo by Kevin States


Mankato photo by Jennifer Urbaniak	Long Island area photo by Jhe Ny	Northwest Jewell County photo by Betsy Jennings Reinert	Phillipsburg photo by Kerri Footh	Phillipsburg photo by Kerri Footh


Osborne photo by Kaelan Cameron	Scottsville photo by Michelle Snyder Baxa	Jewell photo by Sadie Hayden	Stockton photo by Kevin States	Rooks County photo by Sheriff's Office

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