Following a brief warm spell in late January, winter quickly returned to South Central Nebraska on January 31st 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. Areas of mainly light snow continued into Tuesday February 1st, with storm total accumulations generally ranging from 1-3 inches west of the Highway 281 corridor, and 2-4 inches to the east. However, the primary story on the 1st became widespread visibility restrictions and at least minor drifting from blowing snow, thanks to strong north winds sustained at speeds to around 30 MPH and gusts to over 40 MPH. Near-blizzard conditions were noted for several hours during the day, especially along and east of Highway 281 where visibilities in the 1/4 to 1/2 mile range were common. In addition to snowfall impacts, Feb. 1st ended up being one of the coldest days of the winter across South Central Nebraska, both in terms of actual air temperature and wind chill readings. Actual high temperatures on the 1st only registered between 6-10 degrees, and when factoring in the winds, several automated stations such as Hastings, Ord, Lexington and Kearney recorded wind chills between -30 to -35 during the morning.

Winter Weather in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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 MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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 YORK, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 23:00:00 (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 BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 13:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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 PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 13:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 13:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 23:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 23:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 23:00:00 (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.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The lowest wind chill reading of the night recorded by the Ord ASOS was 32 degrees below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 02:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The lowest wind chill reading of the night recorded by the Kearney AWOS was 33 degrees below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 03:30:00 to 01-FEB-11 07:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The lowest wind chill reading of the night recorded by the Holdrege AWOS was 30 degrees below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 02:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The lowest wind chill reading of the night recorded by the Lexington AWOS was 33 degrees below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 02:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The lowest wind chill reading of the night recorded by the Hastings ASOS was 31 degrees below zero.

Winter Weather in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 13:00:00 (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 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 13:00:00 (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 NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (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.