Nebraska Winter Weather Awareness

Sunday:

…Winter Weather Awareness in Nebraska...

The National Weather Service, along with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has declared Thursday, November 10th as Winter Weather Awareness Day in Nebraska. This is an excellent time for all individuals, families, businesses, schools, and media outlets to review their winter storm preparedness plans.  It is especially important for all new arrivals to the state to become familiar with the National Weather Service watch and warning definitions, as well as winter safety procedures.

Winter storms often bring heavy snow, bitter cold air, high winds, low visibilities, and slick roads.  This can lead to dangerous travel conditions and other life threatening situations such as very frigid wind chill temperatures. 

To help you prepare for these hazards this coming winter, the National Weather Service will issue statements throughout the week to discuss:

Monday: Winter Products Terminology

Tuesday: Home & Vehicle Preparation

Wednesday: Winter Tips for Animals

Thursday: Winter Storm Actions

Friday: Precipitation Types and Measuring Snow

Anyone who needs information on winter storms in Nebraska should contact their nearest National Weather Service office. Here are the NWS offices that serve Nebraska from east to west:

Omaha/Valley:

• Phone: 402-359-9443
• Website: www.weather.gov/oax

Sioux Falls, South Dakota:

• Phone: 605-330-4247
• Website: www.weather.gov/fsd

Hastings:

• Phone: 402-462-4287
• Website: www.weather.gov/gid

North Platte:

• Phone: 308-532-4936
• Website: www.weather.gov/lbf

Goodland, Kansas:

• Phone: 785‑899‑7119
• Website: www.weather.gov/gld

Cheyenne, Wyoming:

• Phone: 605-330-4247
• Website: www.weather.gov/cys

Sunday's Social Media Posts

Monday:

When a warning is issued during the winter season, will you know what it means and will you know how to respond? During this Nebraska Winter Weather Awareness observance, please become familiar with our list of potentially life-saving winter weather products. 

Today’s statement contains warning and advisory criteria for southwestern Nebraska.

Outlooks

A Hazardous Weather Outlook is issued daily by each National Weather Service office serving Nebraska.  The outlook provides information on potentially hazardous weather out to 7 days into the future.  Also, the weather story, a graphic of expected hazardous weather, is posted daily on National Weather Service web sites serving Nebraska.

Watches

A Winter Storm Watch is issued when hazardous winter storm conditions are possible within the next 24 to 72 hours but the timing, intensity, or occurrence may still be uncertain.

A Blizzard Watch is issued when hazardous blizzard conditions are possible within the next 24 to 72 hours, but the timing, intensity, or occurrence may still be uncertain.

A Wind Chill Watch is issued when frigid wind chill temperatures are possible within the next 24 to 72 hours, but the timing, intensity, or occurrence may still be uncertain.

Warnings

A Winter Storm Warning is issued for potentially life-threatening winter storm conditions, such as heavy snowfall or a combination of snowfall, sleet and ice, which are likely to occur within the next 12 to 36 hours.

Warning criteria for heavy snow, sleet and ice is defined by the following amounts.

• Snow...6 inches or more in 12 hours or 8 inches in 24 hours.
• Sleet...more than 1/2 inch.
• Combination...A combination of two or more of these warning events...snow, blowing snow, sleet, or ice...with at least one reaching warning criteria.

A Blizzard Warning is issued when the following conditions are expected to occur for at least 3 hours...

• Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or greater...
• Considerable falling and/or blowing snow...
• Visibility frequently less than 1/4 mile.

A Ice Storm Warning is issued for the following conditions...

• Freezing rain or freezing drizzle accumulation greater than 1/4 inch.

A Wind Chill Warning will be issued for the following wind chill temperatures...

• Minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit or colder with any wind speed.

Advisories

A Winter Weather Advisory will be issued for the following conditions:

• Snow...3-5 inches in 12-24 hours.
• Blowing Snow...Visibility frequently 1/4 mile to 1 mile
• Sleet...less than 1/2 inch.
• Combination...A combination of two or more of these advisory events...snow, blowing snow, sleet, or ice...with at least one reaching advisory criteria.

A Wind Chill Advisory will be issued for the following conditions:

• Minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit to Minus 24 degrees Fahrenheit with any wind speed.

Monday's Social Media Posts

Tuesday:

Here are some preparations to make at home, at work, with your vehicle, and actions to take before the storm arrives:

• During the winter in the home, you should have available extra food, water, medicine, baby items and first aid supplies.  High energy food that requires no cooking or refrigeration is best.

• Have a battery powered radio and/or television, flashlights, lanterns and extra batteries.

• Make sure there is an adequate supply of heating fuel and have an emergency heating source such as a fireplace, wood stove or space heater.  Have fire extinguishers and smoke detectors and keep them in working order.  Fire departments may have trouble responding during and after a winter storm.

• Your vehicles should also be prepared for winter storm conditions.  Fully winterize and check your vehicle including the battery, heating system and belts.  Keep the gas tank as full as possible.

• Have a winter storm survival kit in vehicles, including blankets, shovel, high calorie non‑perishable food, flashlight with extra batteries, first‑aid kit, knife, towels, sand, tow rope, windshield brush and scraper and booster cables.  Have a means of two‑way communication such as a cell phone.

• Check the latest forecasts and road conditions before you start your travel. Use good judgement in determining whether to start or continue your trip.  Avoid travel if at all possible during severe winter weather. ...REMEMBER... No trip is a "must" trip.  No family gathering, job or appointment is worth your life.

Tuesday's Social Media Posts

Wednesday:

Pets need special care this winter too! Follow these tips to keep your pets healthy and happy.

If it’s too cold for you to be outside, it’s also too cold for your pets. Make sure to provide a warm, dry place for any animals that typically stay outdoors.

Follow this link to find more information on how to protect your pets during snowstorms.

Don’t forget about the animals on the farm! Tips include hauling extra feed to nearby feeding areas and having plenty of water available.

Wednesday's Social Media Posts

Thursday:

Winter storms are considered Deceptive Killers because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm.  People die in traffic accidents on icy roads, die of heart attacks shoveling snow, and they die of hypothermia from extreme cold.

Here are some survival tips that may help you survive if caught in a winter storm:

• If you are caught outside in a winter storm try to find shelter and stay dry. 

• If no shelter is available try to prepare some sort of wind break or snow cave for protection from the wind.  

• If possible, build a fire.  Do not eat snow.  It will lower your body temperature and could lead to hypothermia.

• If you become stranded in your vehicle during a winter storm, stay with the vehicle and do not try to walk to safety.   Disorientation occurs quickly in wind‑driven snow and cold.  Being lost in open country during a blizzard can mean death.  Vehicles offer shelter and are the best location to be found by rescue people.

• Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat.  Open a window slightly for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.

• Make your vehicle visible to rescuers.  Tie a colored, preferably red, cloth to the antenna.  Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine.  Keep watch for rescue crews.  Do not let all occupants sleep at once.

• Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving your arms, legs, fingers and toes to stimulate circulation and warm extremities.

• If at home or in a building stay inside.  Close off unneeded rooms and cover windows at night. 

• Eat and drink plenty of liquids.  Food provides the energy for producing body heat and fluids will prevent dehydration. 

• Wear layers of loose fitting, light weight, warm clothing.

Thursday's Social Media Posts

Friday:

Will there be rain, ice or snow? Temperatures, not only at the surface but aloft, are key in determining which type of precipitation will be received. If the air is cold throughout the atmosphere (below freezing), all precipitation will fall as snow. At times, a layer of warm air aloft develops, leading to precipitation type problems. This warm air aloft (temperatures above freezing) will cause snow falling from the clouds to melt. Cold air near the surface allows the melting snow (now rain after it passes through the warm air aloft) to either refreeze completely as sleet, or, refreeze when it strikes the surface (freezing rain). The depth of a layer of cold air between the warm air aloft and the surface determines whether sleet or freezing rain is observed. If the warm air extends all the way to the surface, rain will be observed.

Measuring snow can be difficult, especially on the High Plains when strong winds are usually involved. Provided below are some tips on how to measure snow accurately. Please remember to send us your snowfall reports! We greatly appreciate any information you may provide!

Social media has become a powerful tool for sharing weather information. Included below are some reminders on using social media in times of inclement weather.

Friday's Social Media Posts