Following a brief warm spell in late January, winter quickly returned to South Central Nebraska on the last day of the month as a large upper level low pressure system carved into the central United States, bringing some of the coldest air of the season with it. On Monday the 31st, the day started out with light freezing drizzle in parts of the area, but mainly for counties near the Kansas border. As the day wore on into the evening, light snow gradually overspread the area from northwest to southeast, with accumulations of 1-3 inches by midnight in some locations. However, the bigger story became increasing north winds, with sustained speeds to around 30 MPH and gusts to over 40 MPH resulting in at least minor drifting and visibility restrictions to less than one half mile. In addition, with temperatures plunging to a few degrees either side of zero, the strong winds ushered in the coldest wind chill temperatures of the season, with places such as Ord reporting a wind chill of 31 degrees below zero just before midnight. The combination of light snow, strong winds and dangerous wind chills continued into February 1st, when near white-out conditions occurred in some areas along and east of the Highway 281 corridor, including around Hastings. Wind chills on the morning of the 1st were commonly around -30 across much of South Central Nebraska. By the time snow ended for good on the 1st, storm total accumulations of 1-3 inches were reported west of the Highway 281 corridor, and 2-4 inches to the east.

Winter Weather in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Weather in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Weather in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 06:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Storm in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Storm in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Storm in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Weather in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 06:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Storm in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Storm in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Storm in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Storm in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Storm in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Storm in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Weather in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 06:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Weather in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 06:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Weather in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 04:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.  Bitterly cold temperatures with the winds brought wind chill values well below zero, with the Grand Island Airport reporting a wind chill reading of 29 degrees below zero.

Winter Weather in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 06:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Weather in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 31-JAN-11 06:00:00 to 31-JAN-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.