An intense upper level low pressure system deepened over the Desert Southwest in the days preceding Christmas, and unleashed its fury across the plains on Christmas Day.  After a relative lull in activity during the daytime hours on Christmas Eve, conditions began to quickly deteriorate during the evening as the winter storm system reorganized across the Plains.  The system deepened across the Southern Plains and along the Missouri River, before shifting north and settling in across Iowa on Christmas Day.  Being oriented on the backside of the upper low pressure system allowed south central Nebraska to catch the brunt of the combination of snowfall and very strong winds associated with the storm.  While the entire area was affected by northwest winds of 40 mph, and gusts near 60 mph at times, the majority of the snow fell in an area generally north of Highway 6 and east of Highway 281.  In this area, Christmas Day snowfall amounts tallied 4 to 8 inches, with many 3 day storm totals reaching over a foot.  The snow and wind produced blizzard white-out conditions due to significant blowing and drifting of the snow.  Numerous roads became impassable and were closed, including major highways and Interstate 80 from Grand Island east to the Missouri River.   The timing and extent of the blizzard on Christmas led to cancellations or rescheduling of holiday religious services and festivities for those that needed to travel.  It took many days for city, residential and area rural roads to be cleared from this storm, and given the timing and widespread impacts, the Christmas Blizzard is expected to be remembered for many years.

Blizzard in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 04:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 07:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 07:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 07:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 25-DEC-09 04:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 24-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS