The first major winter storm of the 2012-2013 season brought widespread snowfall of generally 3 to 9 inches to the entire 24-county area, along with several hours of blizzard conditions to most counties. Officially, this was the first blizzard to blast South Central Nebraska in nearly three years...since the Christmas 2009 event. Wind and blowing snow created white-out conditions during most of the afternoon and evening of Wednesday the 19th, and travel became difficult if not impossible with reports of numerous accidents and road closures, including Interstate 80. Bands of moderate to heavy snow initially overspread most areas during the early to mid-afternoon hours, in some cases starting out as a brief period of rain or a rain/sleet/snow mix. Through the late afternoon and especially evening hours, full-fledged blizzard conditions blossomed as an expansive shield of snow combined with steadily increasing north winds featuring sustained speeds generally 25-35 MPH but frequently gusting 40-45 MPH. During this time a few lightning strikes (thundersnow) were also noted within the heaviest snow bands. Generally between 8 PM on the 19th and 2 AM on Thursday the 20th, the back edge of moderate to heavy snow gradually cleared South Central Nebraska from west to east, releasing its grip on the Highway 281 corridor around midnight. Even in the wake of falling snow, late night wind speeds were slow to decrease, keeping blowing snow going into the morning hours of the 20th.
The highest snowfall amounts of generally 5-9 focused within an east-west swath across the heart of the area, including much of the Interstate 80 and Highway 6 corridors. Per NWS cooperative observers, some of the highest totals included 10 near York, 9.1 at Central City and 8.1 at Hastings. To both the north and south of the primary snowfall zone, lesser amount of 3-4 were more common in the Ord, Greeley, Superior and Hebron areas. Liquid equivalent precipitation exceeded 1 inch in a few areas, including 1.04 at Grand Island. Interestingly, this was the highest calendar-day precipitation total of the entire year in Grand Island, which was quite unusual considering that the wettest days are almost always associated with spring or summer rainfall events. On the synoptic scale, this event was driven by a powerful, expansive mid-upper level trough translating eastward through the Central Plains, and featuring a closed 700 millibar low tracking across the northern half of Kansas. The most intense late afternoon and evening snow bands were associated with stout frontogenesis/deformation on the northwest side of the mid level circulation. At the surface, strong north winds and blizzard conditions were promoted by a tight pressure gradient on the north side of roughly 996 millibar low that tracked along the Kansas/Oklahoma border during the afternoon and evening.

Blizzard in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A nearby ASOS indicated blizzard conditions. A storm total snowfall of 9.1 inches was reported in Central City.

Blizzard in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

At 752 pm, visibility was zero in near Aurora, with roadways drifting shut north of Aurora on Highway 14. An estimated storm total snowfall of 7 to 8 inches occurred in Aurora. Visibility of one quarter mile was recorded from the AWOS at the Aurora Airport in the afternoon before malfunctioning. The AWOS recorded frequent wind gusts of 35 to 40mph during the afternoon and evening.

Blizzard in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A storm total snowfall of 10 inches occurred 3 miles north of York. Visibility of one quarter mile was recorded from the AWOS at the York Airport in the afternoon before malfunctioning. The AWOS recorded frequent wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph during the afternoon and evening.

Blizzard in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A nearby AWOS indicated blizzard conditions. A storm total snowfall of 6 inches was reported from Canaday Steam Plant.

Blizzard in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 16:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The storm total snowfall for Osceola was 8.0 inches. A nearby AWOS indicated blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous automobile accidents were reported during the evening, in association with blowing and drifting snow. Visibility of one quarter mile was recorded from the AWOS at the Lexington Airport in the afternoon before malfunctioning. The AWOS recorded frequent wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph during the afternoon and evening. A storm total snowfall of 5.5 inches was reported in Lexington via NeRAIN.

Blizzard in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Nebraska State Patrol shut down Interstate 80 between Kearney and Ogallala between 530 pm and 6 pm, and locations to the east all the way through York County and beyond later on in the evening. The interstate was shut down until the following day due to several accidents from blowing and drifting snow. Storm total snowfall for the Kearney Airport was 7.0 inches. Visibility of one quarter mile was recorded from the AWOS at the Kearney Airport in the afternoon before malfunctioning. The AWOS recorded wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph during the afternoon and evening.

Blizzard in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

One fatality occurred on Highway 34 just west of Blaine Street in Grand Island. A male driver lost control and collided with a tractor-trailer. Roads were slick and snow covered at the time. The accident occurred just before 330 pm. The official storm total snowfall for Grand Island was 7.0 inches. Visibility of one quarter mile and Frequent wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were recorded on the ASOS at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island during the late afternoon and evening.

Blizzard in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

There were many stranded motorists across the county. Shelter operations were requested from the Red Cross. Isolated power outages occurred and power poles were on the ground across the southern part of the county. Visibility of one quarter mile was recorded from the AWOS at the Holdege Airport in the afternoon before malfunctioning. The AWOS recorded frequent wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph during the afternoon and evening. A storm total snowfall of 6 inches was reported in Holdrege.

Blizzard in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A nearby ASOS indicated blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

At 6 pm, visibility of less than one quarter mile from blowing and drifting snow was occurring. Drifts of 2 to 3 feet of snow were also occurring. Also, reported by an NWS employee at 710 pm, visibility was zero along Showboat Road from east of Hastings to the Webster County line, with 2 to 3 foot drifts. The official storm total snowfall at NWS Hastings was 8.1 inches, melted down to 1.03 inches of liquid equivalent. Visibility of one quarter mile and frequent wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph were recorded on the ASOS at the Hastings Municipal Airport during the late afternoon and evening.

Blizzard in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

At about 5 pm, the wind was from the north at 30 mph, gusting to 40 to 45 mph, with visibility of 100 yards or less occurring six miles east-southeast of Clay Center. At 811 pm, the emergency manager reported that the power was out to much of the community of Edgar where people were being moved to warming shelters. Storm total snowfall was 8.5 inches with a liquid equivalent of 0.90 inches, six miles east southeast of Clay Center.

Blizzard in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

At 820 pm, a trained spotter reported visibility of about 125 from blowing and drifting snow. At 826 pm, the Emergency Manager reported that Highway 81 was closed across the entire county due to reduced visibility and treacherous road conditions that caused non-injury accidents with stranded vehicles blocing the roadway. A storm total snowfall of 8 inches was reported in Geneva.

Blizzard in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snowfall was 8.0 inches at Wilsonville. A nearby AWOS indicated blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A nearby AWOS indicated blizzard conditions. A storm total snowfall of 5 inches occurred at Harlan County Dam.

Blizzard in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A nearby ASOS indicated blizzard conditions. A storm total snowfall of 7 inches was reported near Upland.

Blizzard in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

At 710 pm, zero visibility with 2 to 3 foot drifts were occurring in northeastern Webster County along Highway 4. A cooperative observer reported a storm total of 9 inches of snow 4 miles southwest of Blue Hill.

Blizzard in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 16:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A nearby ASOS indicated blizzard conditions. At 710 pm, zero visibility was reported along Highway 4 in northwestern Nuckolls County. Storm total snowfall of 3 inches was reported four miles east of Superior.

Blizzard in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 17:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A nearby AWOS indicated blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall generally ranged from 3-5 inches across the county.

Winter Storm in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A nearby AWOS indicated that visibility of one quarter to half mile were probable, along with archived radar data indicating that snow was likely blowing and drifting.

Winter Storm in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A nearby AWOS indicated that visibility of one quarter to half mile were probable, along with archived radar data indicating that snow was likely blowing and drifting.

Winter Weather in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The ASOS at Evelyn Sharp Field in Ord indicated that visibility briefly dropped to one quarter mile with a few wind gusts to just over 35 mph. A cooperative observer in Ord recorded 3 inches of storm total snowfall.

Winter Weather in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A nearby ASOS indicated a probable brief period of visibility down to one quarter of a mile and wind gusts to around 35 mph.  Storm total snowfall across the county was generally 3-4 inches.

Winter Storm in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A nearby ASOS indicated that visibility of one quarter to half mile were probable, along with archived radar data indicating that snow was likely blowing and drifting.