A winter storm developed over the western United States on December 18th, and then moved into the central Plains on the 19th producing heavy snow, localized areas of sleet and freezing rain, and in some areas blizzard conditions. Light rain developed during the late morning and early afternoon on December 19th as moisture spread north into the area from the south. As cooler air worked into the storm system from the north, the rain mixed with and eventually changed over to snow. The change over from rain to snow initially occurred over central Nebraska, spreading into northeast and east central Nebraska, and eventually west central Iowa by mid to late afternoon. Snowfall coverage and intensity increased into the evening hours as the upper level storm system moved through Kansas. Areas of thunder snow were reported in parts of east central Nebraska and southwest Iowa. The snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain over parts of southwest Iowa during the event before finally changing over to all snow just before midnight. The change-over from rain to snow also occurred just before midnight over parts of far southeast Nebraska. As the area of surface low pressure deepened and moved through Missouri toward eastern Iowa, northwest winds increased across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were common from late evening on the 19th into the morning hours of the 20th. The combination of falling temperatures and increasing winds led to significant blowing and drifting of snow and areas of blizzard conditions, especially in open areas. Winds also combined with the initially heavy wet nature of the snow to create power outages for over 45,000 customers across the area. The heaviest snow fell in a band from Butler and Seward County in Nebraska, through the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas, and into west central Iowa. In this band 8 to 10 inches of snow were common with isolated amounts up to 10 inches reported in Saunders and Sarpy County in Nebraska. To the north and the south of this band snowfall amounts were lighter with 3 to 6 inches common. There were also reports of over a quarter inch of sleet and freezing rain in southwest Iowa around Page County, before the precipitation switched over to all snow. The storm finally came to an end by mid day on the 20th as the system pushed off to the east and the winds diminished.

Blizzard in SAUNDERS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 22:30:00 to 20-DEC-12 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Based on surface observations from AWOS the area experienced wind speeds of up to 40 mph.  The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in open areas. Due to the heavy wet nature of the snow, the winds also caused power outages across the County. The area hardest hit appeared to be near Ceresco where some power was out for 2 days. Shelters were set up for those that did not have heat.

Blizzard in DOUGLAS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: ASOS

Based on ASOS observations at Omaha Eppley and those recorded at the National Weather Service near Valley, wind speeds of up to 52 mph were measured across the county.  The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in rural areas. The combination of the winds and snow lead to power outages in the central and western parts of the county with over 41,000 people losing power.

Blizzard in SARPY, NEBRASKA
From 20-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Based on surface observations from AWOS the area experienced wind speeds of up to 52 mph. The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in rural areas. The combination of the winds and snow lead to scattered power outages across the county.

Blizzard in OTOE, NEBRASKA
From 20-DEC-12 01:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Based on surface observations from AWOS the area experienced wind speeds of up to 48 mph.  The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in open areas.

Blizzard in CASS, NEBRASKA
From 20-DEC-12 01:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Based on surface observations from AWOS the area experienced wind speeds of up to 38 mph. The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in open areas.

Winter Storm in PLATTE, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:30:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall ranged from around 3 inches in the northwest part of the county to between 6 and 7 inches in the southeast.

Winter Storm in COLFAX, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:30:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall ranged from around 4 inches in the northern part of the county to near 8 inches in the south.

Winter Storm in BUTLER, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow fell across nearly all of Butler County with most locations seeing between 6 and 8 inches of snow.

Winter Storm in SEWARD, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall across Seward County ranged from 5 inches to as much as 7 inches.

Winter Storm in SALINE, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall across Saline County ranged from around 1 inch in the south to as much as 7 inches in the northern half of the county.

Winter Storm in DODGE, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:30:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall across Dodge County ranged from around 4 inches in the north to as much as 8 inches around the Fremont area in the southern half of the county.

Winter Storm in SAUNDERS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall fell across most of Saunders County. The snowfall totals ranged from 6 to as much as 10 inches.

Winter Storm in LANCASTER, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Snowfall across Lancaster County ranged from 4 to 6 inches.

Winter Storm in BURT, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 17:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall of 4 to 5 inches and strong northwest winds up to 50 mph created winter storm conditions in Burt County.

Winter Storm in WASHINGTON, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amount of 4 to 6 inches were common across Washington County.

Winter Storm in DOUGLAS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 15:30:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Heavy snow fell across most of Douglas County. The heavy snow was accompanied by thunder at many locations. Snowfall totals ranged from 6 inches in the southeast part of the county to 8 to 10 inches in the north and west.

Winter Storm in SARPY, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 16:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Heavy snow fell across parts of Sarpy County. The snow was accompanied by thunder at many locations. Snowfall totals ranged from around 3 inches in the far east part of the county to 8 to 10 inches in the west.

Winter Storm in CASS, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 16:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall across Cass County ranged from 3 inches in the eastern parts of the county to 6 to 7 inches across the north and west.

Winter Storm in OTOE, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 20:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall across Otoe County ranged from 2 inches in the eastern parts of the county to 6 inches across the north and west.

Blizzard in BUTLER, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 19:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Based on surrounding surface observations from the area indicates wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were common reducing visibilities to a quarter of a mile or less, especially in open areas.

Blizzard in SEWARD, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 19:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Based on surrounding AWOS observations the area experienced wind speeds of up to 40 mph.  The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in open areas. The combination of blowing snow and reduced visibilities led to the closure Interstate 80 across the county.

Blizzard in LANCASTER, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 22:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: ASOS

Based on surface observations from ASOS the area experienced wind speeds of up to 40 mph. The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in open areas. The combination of blowing snow and reduced visibilities led to the closure of Interstate 80 from Lincoln west from the evening of the 19th through the afternoon of the 20th. Due to the heavy wet nature of the snow, the winds also produced power outages scattered across the county. In the city of Lincoln there were 2500 customers that lost power, and in rural areas over 100 customers lost power.

Blizzard in SALINE, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 20:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Based on surface observations from surrounding AWOS stations and information provided by local emergency management, the area experienced wind speeds of up to 40 mph. The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in open areas. The combination of the wind and snow led to a power sub station near Wilbur to go offline on the evening of the 19th leading to widespread power outages for rural customers.

Blizzard in BURT, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 21:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: ASOS

Based on surface observations from ASOS the area experienced wind speeds of up 40 mph.  The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile with white out conditions in open areas. Two areas of power outages were reported in Burt County due to the combination of the strong winds and snow. Service was restored to both areas with in a few hours.

Blizzard in DODGE, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 21:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Based on surface observations from AWOS the area experienced wind speeds of up to 35 mph.  The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in open areas.

Blizzard in WASHINGTON, NEBRASKA
From 19-DEC-12 22:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Based on surface observations from AWOS the area experienced wind speeds of up to 35 mph. The strong winds combined with falling and blowing snow to reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile, especially in open areas. Due to the heavy wet nature of the snow, the winds also caused power outages including most of the city of Arlington.