A fairly quick-hitting-but-significant winter storm and blizzard struck roughly the southeastern half (and especially southeastern one-third) of South Central Nebraska on this Saturday, serving as a grand finale to a nine-day stretch of active winter weather. This storm promoted several hours of white-out conditions and, unfortunately, resulted in a few noteworthy Interstate 80 accidents. The two main accidents within the coverage area occurred in York and Hamilton counties. Interestingly, both resulted in local emergency response vehicles being struck after arriving on the scene. The first larger crash unfolded a few miles east of York shortly before 3 p.m. and involved an estimated 30 vehicles, including at least 15 semi trucks. Upon responding to the scene, a Waco Volunteer Fire Department ambulance was struck by a semi, injuring four personnel, two seriously. A short time later, another crash occurred near Aurora involving approximately 15 vehicles, including 10 semis. During that incident, a large tanker truck belonging to Aurora Fire Department was struck from behind by a car, but no fire personnel were injured. As a result of these and other accidents, the Interstate was eventually shut down from Grand Island eastward to the Omaha area, not fully re-opening until early afternoon on the 24th.
Focusing on the storm itself, there was a sharp, northwest-southeast divide in snow totals (and resultant travel impacts) across South Central Nebraska. This dividing line between minimal impacts and more serious issues set up roughly along a line from Franklin-Hastings-Osceola. To the southeast of this line, all areas measured at least 2-5, with especially Fillmore, Nuckolls and Thayer counties receiving higher totals of 6-9. In sharp contrast, most counties northwest of the aforementioned line received no more than 1-2, although parts of Furnas and Harlan counties did see up to around 3. Per dozens of CoCoRaHS and NWS cooperative observers, some of the highest official totals featured: 8.5 in Hubbell, 8.0 in Superior, 7.5 in Geneva and south of Shickley, and 7.2 in Hebron and near Blue Hill. In the Tri Cities, totals ranged from merely 0.4 at Kearney to 2.9 at NWS Hastings. Of course, winds were a major factor in the blizzard conditions, as sustained northerly speeds averaged 25-30 MPH with gusts commonly 35-40 MPH, frequently reducing visibility to around 1/4 mile or less in the hardest-hit counties.
Breaking down timing, this was roughly a nine-hour storm for the area as a whole. The first moderate-heavy snow bands blossomed between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., peaked in intensity during the afternoon, and then gradually ended from west-to-east during the early-mid evening, with even the far eastern counties along Highway 81 mostly snow-free by 8 p.m. As it turned out, the duration of the strongest winds closely corresponded to the onset and ending of snow. In the mid-upper levels, this was a fairly classic recipe for a major winter storm/blizzard, as a powerful shortwave trough started off centered over the TX Panhandle on the morning of the 23rd, reached the NE/KS/MO border area by sunset and gradually departed across IA into WI through the night. The associated strong surface low pressure system followed a very similar track. Around the time snow broke out in South Central Nebraska, the low was centered over south central KS with a central pressure around 1000 millibars. Slight intensification commenced through the afternoon and evening as it headed northeast, registering around 996 millibars over southeast IA by 9 p.m. From a forecast perspective this was a well-anticipated event, with a Winter Storm Watch first issued for all of South Central Nebraska on the afternoon of the 21st, around 44-46 hours before the onset of heavy snow and blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by heavy snow. The first of a series of crashes on Interstate 80 occurred at 245 p.m. at mile marker 355, two miles east of the York exit. This crash involved an estimated 30 vehicles, including at least 15 semis. More than 100 vehicles became stranded behind the crash and had to be escorted off of the interstate. Upon responding to the scene, a Waco Volunteer Fire Department ambulance was struck by a semi, injuring four personnel, two seriously. Cooperative observers reported a snowfall total of 6.5 inches three miles west of Gresham, 5.6 inches fell three miles north of York, and 5.4 inches in Bradshaw.

Blizzard in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 4.7 inches occurred six miles east-southeast of Clay Center and 3.0 inches fell in Clay Center. Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by the heavy snow.

Blizzard in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 4.4 inches occurred three miles northeast of Shelby, 3.5 inches fell in Osceola, and 3.1 inches fell in Polk. Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by the heavy snow.

Winter Weather in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 09:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 3.5 inches occurred in Beaver City and 3.0 inches fell in Wilsonville.

Blizzard in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A snowfall total of 2.9 inches occurred at the NWS Hastings office. Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by the heavy snow, especially in southeastern Adams County.

Blizzard in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by heavy snow. At approximately 310 p.m. a crash occurred at mile marker 329 on Interstate 80, three miles west of the Aurora exit. The crash involved approximately 15 vehicles, including 10 semis. At least 50 vehicles became stranded behind this crash, and had to be escorted off of the interstate. During the incident, a large tanker truck belonging to Aurora Fire Department was struck from behind by a car, but no fire personnel were injured.

Blizzard in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 7.5 inches occurred in Geneva and four miles south of Shickley. Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by the heavy snow.

Blizzard in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 3.0 inches occurred in Franklin. Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by the heavy snow.

Blizzard in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 7.2 inches occurred four miles southwest of Blue Hill and 6.5 inches fell in Red Cloud. Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by the heavy snow.

Blizzard in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 8.5 inches occurred in Hubbell and 7.2 inches fell in Hebron. Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by the heavy snow.

Blizzard in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 13:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 4.7 inches occurred six miles east-southeast of Clay Center and 3.0 inches fell in Clay Center. Frequent north wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph produced quarter mile visibility or less when accompanied by the heavy snow.

Winter Weather in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 10:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 2.5 inches occurred at Harlan Lake.

Winter Weather in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 11:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 2.0 inches occurred in Minden.

Winter Weather in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 11:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A snowfall total of 1.3 inches occurred at Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island, with NOHRSC snowfall analysis depicting that at least 2-3 fell in southeastern Hall County.

Winter Weather in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 23-FEB-19 12:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Based on snowfall reports from nearby counties and NOHRSC snowfall analysis maps, most of Merrick County likely received 1-3 of snow.