The second winter storm of the month hit eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa as a complex weather pattern brought a prolonged period of winter weather, including blizzard conditions, to the region around Christmas.  Low pressure aloft in the southern plains lifted northeast into Missouri as another low pressure system dropped south out of Canada.  These two systems then merged over the central United States and eventually pulled Atlantic moisture westward into the plains.  Before they merged, the southern system pulled up gulf moisture and brought areas of freezing rain to southeast Nebraska and 3 to 5 inches of snow to northeast Nebraska on 12/23.  The second system pulled down Arctic Air as north winds gusted between 40 and 50 mph over most of the region.  This not only changed all the precipitation to snow on the 24th, but also brought blizzard conditions to much of eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa Christmas Eve and much of Christmas Day as the systems merged.  Snow and blowing snow and occasional blizzard or near-blizzard conditions then continued through much of the 26th.
Snowfall from the prolonged winter storm was 10 to 18 inches over most of eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa.  Heavier totals included around 18 inches in Norfolk, around 16 inches in Neligh and near Little Sioux Iowa, around 15 inches in Columbus, near Verdel Nebraska and Shenandoah Iowa, 14 inches near Gretna, Bennington and Logan Iowa and 13 inches at the NWS in Valley, near Auburn, Fremont, Ft. Calhoun, Wayne, Bloomfield, and Papillion.  The snow and strong winds drifted most rural roads shut and even made many highways impassable, especially in northeast Nebraska and sections of southeast Nebraska northwest through southwest of Lincoln where winds were a bit stronger.  President Obama granted disaster declarations for many counties hit by this storm and the one in early January.

Winter Storm in WAYNE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts of  40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over most of the county with 13 inches measured in Wayne among the highest reported.

Blizzard in GAGE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak wind of 49 mph was measured by the Awos in Beatrice.  This caused visibilities to frequently drop below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 6 to 10 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding communities.

Winter Storm in GAGE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak wind of 49 mph was measured by the Awos in Beatrice.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 6 to 10 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding communities.  Drifts of 7 feet were common in rural areas and the highway superintendent commented that it was the worst storm he had seen in quite a while.

Blizzard in KNOX, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This caused visibilities to frequently fall below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas. Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county, with 15 inches measured near Verdel and around 16 inches measured in Bloomfield among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in COLFAX, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 14 to 16 inches over most of the county with 16 inches measured in Schuyler among the highest reported.

Blizzard in LANCASTER, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Interstate 80 was closed for a while east of Lincoln.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak gust of 47 mph was recorded by the Asos in Lincoln.  This caused visibilities to frequently drop below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 14 inches over the county with around 13 inches measured in Lincoln and near Raymond.

Winter Storm in JOHNSON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.   Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 7 to 11 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding communities.

Winter Storm in JEFFERSON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 5 to 7 inches over the county with 5 inches measured in Fairbury among the highest reported.  However, the strong winds caused substantial drifting with some drifts of 5 to 7 feet reported.

Blizzard in ANTELOPE, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. This caused visibilities to frequently fall below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over much of the county, with 15.5 inches measured in Neligh among the highest reported.

Blizzard in OTOE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak wind of 46 mph was measured by the Awos in Nebraska City. This caused frequent visibilities reductions to below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 7 to 11 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding communities.

Blizzard in JEFFERSON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. This caused visibilities to drop to near zero, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 5 to 7 inches over the county with 5 inches measured in Fairbury among the highest reported.  However, the strong winds caused substantial drifting with some drifts of 5 to 7 feet reported.

Winter Storm in SALINE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 7 to 10 inches over the county with 8 inches measured near Friend among the highest reported.  Some drifts over 7 feet were reported by emergency management who also stated it was the worst storm to hit the area in over 30 year.  The snow and blowing snow necessitated the suspension of snow removal equipment during the height of the storm.

Blizzard in BOONE, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow lasting into the morning hours of the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm, with a peak wind of 53 mph measured at the Awos in Albion.  This caused visibilities to frequently fall below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Snowfall from the storm was estimated at 7 to 10 inches based on surrounding observations.

Blizzard in SALINE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period.  This caused visibilities to frequently fall below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 7 to 10 inches over the county with 8 inches measured near Friend among the highest reported.  Some drifts over 7 feet were reported by emergency management which caused the suspension of snow removal equipment during the height of the storm.

Winter Storm in CUMING, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Blizzard in CUMING, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 21:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This reduced visibilities below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Winter Storm in STANTON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm and around 1,450 homes lost their power for a while.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 17 inches over most of the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Winter Storm in OTOE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak wind of 46 mph was measured by the Awos in Nebraska City.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 7 to 11 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding communities.

Winter Storm in RICHARDSON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak wind gust of 46 mph was measured by the Awos in Falls City.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over the county with around 14 inches measured near Shubert among the highest reported.

Blizzard in BUTLER, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This reduced many visibilities to below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 15 inches over the county with 12.5 inches measured in David City among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in LANCASTER, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 02:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Interstate 80 was closed for a while both east and west of Lincoln.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak gust of 47 mph was recorded by the Asos in Lincoln.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 14 inches over the county with around 13 inches measured in Lincoln and near Raymond.  The city of Lincoln reported that it cost $1.2 million for snow removal alone from the storm, and a local electric company reported that the storm, partially caused from freezing rain that preceded it, caused $60,000 worth of damage in the county.

Blizzard in SARPY, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Interstate 80 was also closed from near Gretna westward for a while.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak gust of 47 mph was measured by the Asos at Omaha-Eppley.  This caused visibilities to frequently drop below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 15 inches over the county with around 15 inches measured near Gretna and around 14.5 inches measured in Papillion among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in PIERCE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 18 inches over most of the county based on surrounding observations.

Blizzard in MADISON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 21:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. A peak gust of 47 mph was measured by the Asos near Norfolk. This caused visibilities to frequently fall below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 14 to 19 inches over most of the county with around 19 inches measured in Norfolk among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in SEWARD, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 02:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding towns.  Around 1000 residents of Milford lost power for a while Christmas day when the strong winds shorted power lines that were coated in ice from an ice storm a few days prior.

Winter Storm in CEDAR, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 13 to 18 inches over most of the county with 17 inches measured near Hartington among the highest reported.

Blizzard in DOUGLAS, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak gust of 47 mph was measured by the Asos at Omaha-Eppley.  This frequently dropped visibilities below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas. Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 15 inches over the county with around 14.5 inches measured at the NWS near Valley, 15.2 inches measured in Bennington and 11.5 inches measured at Eppley among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in KNOX, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county, with 15 inches measured near Verdel and around 16 inches measured in Bloomfield among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in BUTLER, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 02:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 15 inches over the county with 12.5 inches measured in David City among the highest reported.

Blizzard in WAYNE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 21:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts of  40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. This frequently reduced visibilities below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over most of the county with 13 inches measured in Wayne among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in SAUNDERS, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 02:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 15 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Blizzard in DODGE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This caused visibilities to frequently drop to 1/4 mile or less.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county with around 14 inches measured in Fremont among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in PLATTE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. A peak gust of 49 mph was measured by the Awos in Columbus.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 14 to 18 inches over most of the county with around 16.3 inches measured in Columbus among the highest reported.  A 19-year-old male was killed when he was struck by snow removal equipment when assisting its removal a few days after the storm.  In addition, LPPD reported that 1,450 customers in Platte Center, Lindsay, Monroe, Tarnov and Creston temporarily lost power during the storm.  The city of Columbus spent $43,000 alone just for labor for snow removal.

Blizzard in COLFAX, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. This caused frequent visibilities to drop below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 14 to 16 inches over most of the county with 16 inches measured in Schuyler among the highest reported.

Blizzard in THURSTON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This caused visibilities to frequently fall below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Winter Storm in CASS, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 02:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Interstate 80 was closed for a while east of Lincoln.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over the county with around 10 inches measured near Weeping Water among the highest reported.  The winds and snow produced drifts that were in excess of 10 feet in rural areas.

Blizzard in BURT, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak gust of 45 mph was recorded by the Asos in Tekamah.  This caused visibilities to frequently fall below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 8 to 16 inches over most of the county based on observations from surrounding towns and 8 inches measured in Tekamah.

Blizzard in SEWARD, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Visibilities were frequently reduced to 1/4 mile or less, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Winter Storm in MADISON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. A peak gust of 47 mph was measured by the Asos near Norfolk.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 14 to 19 inches over most of the county with around 19 inches measured in Norfolk among the highest reported.  Drifts over 10 feet were common in rural areas, and the weight of the snow caused damage to the roofs of 2 warehouses.

Blizzard in STANTON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 21:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. This caused visibilities to frequently fall to near zero, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 17 inches over most of the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Blizzard in CEDAR, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 23:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This frequently reduced visibilities below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Twenty stranded motorists had to be rescued by snowplows on Highway 81 and the County Commissioner commented that it was the worst storm to hit the area since 1968.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 13 to 18 inches over most of the county with 17 inches measured near Hartington among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in THURSTON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Blizzard in CASS, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Interstate 80 was closed for a while east of Lincoln.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This caused frequent visibility reductions to below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over the county with around 10 inches measured near Weeping Water among the highest reported.

Blizzard in RICHARDSON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 20:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak wind gust of 46 mph was measured by the Awos in Falls City.  This caused visibilities to frequently fall below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over the county with around 14 inches measured near Shubert among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in PAWNEE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.   Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 8 to 12 inches over the county with a little over 11 inches measured in Pawnee City among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in ANTELOPE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over much of the county, with 15.5 inches measured in Neligh among the highest reported.  The snow and strong winds caused 200 customers in the Oakdale area to lose power for around 3.5 hours Christmas Day.

Blizzard in JOHNSON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This dropped visibilities below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 7 to 11 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding communities.

Winter Storm in SARPY, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Interstate 80 was also closed from near Gretna westward for a while.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak gust of 47 mph was measured by the Asos at Omaha-Eppley.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 15 inches over the county with around 15 inches measured near Gretna and around 14.5 inches measured in Papillion among the highest reported.

Blizzard in PIERCE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 23:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This frequently reduced visibilities below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 18 inches over most of the county based on surrounding observations.

Winter Storm in BURT, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak gust of 45 mph was recorded by the Asos in Tekamah.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 8 to 16 inches over most of the county based on observations from surrounding towns and 8 inches measured in Tekamah.

Winter Storm in WASHINGTON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county with around 13 inches measured in Ft. Calhoun among the highest reported.  The Blair city administrator commented that it was one of the worst storms to hit the area in the last 30 to 40 years and it produced drifts over 15 feet in rural areas.

Blizzard in PLATTE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm. A peak gust of 49 mph was measured by the Awos in Columbus.  This caused near white-out conditions, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 14 to 18 inches over most of the county with around 16.3 inches measured in Columbus among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in NEMAHA, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.   Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over the county with around 14 inches measured near Auburn among the highest reported.

Blizzard in SAUNDERS, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days. Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm reducing visibilities to near zero, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 15 inches over the county based on observations from surrounding towns.

Winter Storm in BOONE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 05:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow lasting into the morning hours of the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 45 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm, with a peak wind of 53 mph measured at the Awos in Albion.  Snowfall from the storm was estimated at 7 to 10 inches based on surrounding observations and drifts of 10 to 12 feet were observed in rural areas.

Blizzard in WASHINGTON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This caused visibilities to frequently drop below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas, making travel nearly impossible and stranding some vehicles.  One family that became disoriented in the blinding snow had to be rescued by a snowplow.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county with around 13 inches measured in Ft. Calhoun among the highest reported.

Blizzard in PAWNEE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  This dropped visibilities frequently below 1/4 mile. Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 8 to 12 inches over the county with a little over 11 inches measured in Pawnee City among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in DODGE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many roads and highways and bringing most traffic to a standstill for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 16 inches over most of the county with around 14 inches measured in Fremont among the highest reported.

Blizzard in NEMAHA, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 20:00:00 to 25-DEC-09 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began around noon Christmas Eve and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.   This caused frequent visibility reductions below 1/4 mile, especially in open areas.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 10 to 14 inches over the county with around 14 inches measured near Auburn among the highest reported.

Winter Storm in DOUGLAS, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-09 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A prolonged winter storm/blizzard hit the area closing many rural roads and some highways for a few days.  Snowfall from the storm began Christmas Eve morning and lasted well into the 26th with substantial blowing and drifting snow and occasional periods of accumulating snow finally tapering off around midnight on the 27th.  Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts over 40 mph occurred for an extended period during the height of the storm.  A peak gust of 47 mph was measured by the Asos at Omaha-Eppley.  Total snowfall from the storm was estimated at 12 to 15 inches over the county with around 14.5 inches measured at the NWS near Valley, 15.2 inches measured in Bennington and 11.5 inches measured at Eppley among the highest reported.