Dec. 26-27, 2018: Winter Storm Brings Heavy Rain/Strong Winds (all areas), Heavy Snow (mainly north/west counties)

Overview

Just after the Christmas Holiday, a storm system crossed the Central Plains producing widespread rain, intense winds and snow. Rain developed on December 26th and widespread, heavy rainfall amounts of at least one inch were observed, with several locations picking up over two inches of rain. Rainfall of 1.42 inches at Grand Island and 1.41 inches at Hastings, both set new daily rainfall records for December 26th.

A cold front arrived later that night or early in the morning on the 27th causing temperatures to plunge below freezing and causing a 'flash freeze' as wet outdoor surfaces and roads froze.

Multiple bands of heavy snow also developed early Thursday morning (December 27th) and continued through the day. The heaviest band of snow set up roughly from Cambridge to Lexington to Greeley, NE. When coupled with northwest wind gusts of 40 to 50 MPH, many locations saw whiteout conditions for several hours.

This combination of drifted roads and poor visibility led to closures along Interstate 80 west from Grand Island to North Platte and impacted post holiday travel. The strong winds led to scattered power outages across the area as well. Even areas that received minimal snowfall (1-2") had issues with poor visibility thanks to the long-lived intense winds.

Snow
Wind
Photos & Video
Rainfall

Snow

2-Day Storm Totals

Greeley	8.5"
Loup City	7.9"
Arcadia	7.0"
Cambridge	7.0"
Wilsonville	7.0"
Elwood 8S	6.3"
Miller	6.0"
Ord	6.0"
Saint Paul	5.0"
Holdrege	5.0"
Ravenna	4.4"
Minden	4.0"
Kearney Airport	3.8"
Grand Island Airport	1.9"
Hastings Airport	1.9"
Osceola	1.5"
Shelby 3NE	1.4"

Peak Wind Gusts

Observations are taken from a variety of equipment

Logan, KS	53 MPH
Holdrege Airport	45 MPH
Odessa, NE	50 MPH
Grand Island Airport	48 MPH
5NNW Oxford, NE	53 MPH
Osborne, KS	46 MPH
6ENE Kearney, NE	50 MPH
3WNW Jewell, KS	47 MPH
3W Sumner, NE	52 MPH
Smith Center Airport	44 MPH
Ord Airport	53 MPH
Hastings Airport	52 MPH
Lexington Airport	47 MPH
Cozad, NE	52 MPH

Photos & Video


10NW of Kearney, NE photo by Jake Petr	10NW of Kearney, NE photo by Jake Petr	Cozad, NE photo by Mrs. Stortenbecker	Lexington, NE photo by Julie Thies


Holdrege, NE photo by, Todd Veal	Holdrege, NE photo by, Todd Veal	Lexington, NE photo by Paul Pack	Cambridge, NE photo by James McGowen

Rain Reports

24 Hour Totals as of ~6am Thursday, December 27th

Franklin	2.20"
Saint Paul	2.07"
Minden	2.06"
Wilsonville	1.93"
Blue Hill 4SW	1.91"
Plainville 4WNW	1.88"
Kearney Airport	1.88"
Naponee	1.66"
Ravenna	1.62"
Lebanon	1.60"
Bradshaw	1.60"
Clay Center	1.60"
Grand Island Airport	1.60"
York 3N	1.58"
Hastings Airport	1.56"
Burr Oak	1.55"
Loup City	1.53"
Smith Center	1.50"
Miller	1.50"
Logan	1.46"
Belgrade	1.44"

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