On this Wednesday morning, a fairly significant winter storm took aim on South Central Nebraska for the second time in five days. Unlike the more prolonged event of the preceding weekend, this one was a quick hitter associated with one primary snow band, with most affected areas receiving accumulation for no more than 6-7 hours. Despite this brevity, bursts of moderate to heavy snow combined with sustained north wind of generally 20-25 MPH and gusts up to around 35 MPH to promote a treacherous morning commute along with numerous school closures. The brunt of this system targeted locations north-northeast of a line extending from Gothenburg-Hastings-Hebron, where most places received at least 2-4 inches. However, the epicenter of heaviest accumulations on the order of 4-8 occurred in a generally 30-40 mile wide corridor extending from around Loup City in the northwest, then east-southeast through the St. Paul, Grand Island, Central City, Aurora, Osceola and York areas. Within the heart of this band, a few of the highest measured totals (per a combination of NWS cooperative observers and NeRAIN observers) featured 8.7 four miles north of Aurora, 8.2 at Ravenna, 7.1 in Loup City, 6.1 at Grand Island airport, 6.0 at St. Paul and 5.7 in Osceola. On either side of this primary snow band there was a fairly sharp drop-off in amounts, as evidenced by reports from Ord (3.0) and Genoa (3.0) to the north, and Hastings (1.7) and Hebron (2.8) to the south.
Breaking down event timing, this generally west-to-east oriented snow band first infiltrated the northwestern quadrant of South Central Nebraska between 1-3 a.m. and then steadily intensified through daybreak as it spread east. Generally between 7-9 a.m., the band began sinking southward across the Highway 6 corridor and toward the Kansas border, while gradually weakening and ending from north-to-south and also from west-to-east. By 1130 a.m. the vast majority of the local area was snow-free. On the synoptic and mesoscale aloft, this quick-but-intense event was driven by a rather classic, strongly-forced frontogenetic band evident mainly in the 850-500 millibar layer, but especially centered around 700 millibars. This frontogenetic forcing slid across the heart of Nebraska from northwest-to-southeast, enhanced by a coupled upper jet structure evident at 300 millibars, featuring the exit region of one jet streak nosing in from the Northern Rockies and the entrance region of another jet streak centered over the Upper Midwest. At the surface, gusty north wind across Nebraska was driven by an enhanced pressure gradient between an Arctic high pressure system sliding into the Northern Plains and the leading edges of a cold front charging southward through southern Kansas at daybreak. Temperatures across South Central Nebraska averaged between 15-20 F during the majority of this event.

Winter Storm in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 01:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 8.2 inches was measured in Ravenna, along with 6.4 inches in Miller.  Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Storm in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 02:00:00 to 04-FEB-15 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A snowfall total of 6.1 inches fell at Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island. Wind gusts up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Storm in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 02:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 8.7 inches occurred 4 miles north of Aurora. Wind gusts up to 30 to 35 mph occurred.

Winter Storm in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 02:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 7.0 inches was reported by an NeRAIN observer 5 miles south-southeast of Palmer. Also, an NWS Cooperative Observer measured 4.5 inches in Central City. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Storm in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 03:00:00 to 04-FEB-15 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 5.7 inches occurred in the community of Osceola. North wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph also occurred and combined with the snow to cause significant travel issues and numerous school closures.

Winter Storm in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 03:00:00 to 04-FEB-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 5.0 inches was measured in Bradshaw, 3 miles west of Gresham, and 3 miles north of York. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north and combined with the snow to cause significant travel issues and numerous school closures.

Winter Weather in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 02:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 3.0 inches was measured in Genoa. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Weather in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 00:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 2.8 inches was measured in Cozad. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Weather in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 02:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 3.0 inches was measured in Clay Center. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Weather in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 02:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 4.0 inches was measured in Geneva. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Weather in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 03:00:00 to 04-FEB-15 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 4.0 inches was measured in Bruning. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Storm in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 01:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A snowfall total of 7.1 inches was reported 2 miles northwest of Rockville, along with 6.2 inches in Loup City. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north. These snowfall reports were from Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network (NERAIN).

Winter Storm in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 02:00:00 to 04-FEB-15 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 6.0 inches occurred in St. Paul. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Weather in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 01:30:00 to 04-FEB-15 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 3.0 inches was measured in Arcadia and Ord. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.

Winter Weather in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-15 02:00:00 to 04-FEB-15 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 2.5 inches was measured in Greeley. Wind gusts of up to 30 to 35 mph occurred out of the north.