For the second straight year, a significant post-Christmas winter storm visited South Central Nebraska, this one centered between Friday the 27th and Monday the 30th. This event featured widespread, seasonably-heavy precipitation area-wide, but the main impacts revolved around heavy snow and near-blizzard conditions within primarily the northwest quadrant of the area (mainly counties along/west of Highway 281 and along/north of Highway 6). Most of this area observed anywhere from 4-13 of snow, eventually teaming with strong northwest winds frequently gusting 40-50+ MPH to promote significant blowing/drifting and resultant travel troubles. Interestingly, many of the worst travel issues occurred 24+ hours after the majority of snowfall, thanks to a time lag between the heaviest snow/strongest winds. The majority of snow occurred on the evening of the 28th into the early morning of the 29th. However, the strongest winds didn't kick in until the evening of the 29th into the morning of the 30th, shifting blowing/drifting impacts into high gear. During this time, numerous road closures occurred due to accidents and vehicles getting stuck in drifts, including along Interstate 80, Highway 30 and Highway 2. Along Interstate 80, a closure during the overnight of the 29th-30th from Grand Island westward left many motorists stranded for hours, with the Interstate not fully re-opening until that afternoon. When all was said and done, the very-highest storm-total snowfall of 8-13 focused within the following counties: Valley/Greeley/Sherman/Howard/Dawson/Buffalo/western Hall/ northern sections of Gosper, Phelps, and Kearney. Some of the highest official totals included: 13.2 near Arcadia, 13 in North Loup, 12.2 at Ord, 11.1 in Kearney and 11 at Ravenna. Going eastward and southward from there, a sharp drop-off was quite evident, with only 3.7 at Grand Island and Hastings, around 2 in Genoa and Red Cloud, and barely a dusting in southeastern towns such as Clay Center, Superior and Hebron. As for total precipitation (rain and snow liquid equivalent), this was a soaker by winter standards, with most of the southeast half of South Central Nebraska tallying 1.50-2.00 and the northwest half generally 0.75-1.50.
Breaking down the details and timing of this long-duration winter storm: Things actually got underway with widespread rainfall on the 27th into the morning of the 28th, especially within the southeast half of the area where amounts of 1-2 were common. Fortunately, temperatures in most counties remained just warm enough to keep this rain from freezing onto roads. However, limited icing of elevated surfaces was fairly widespread, and some slick roads were noted primarily in far northern counties such as Valley/Greeley. Following a lull in precipitation for most on the afternoon of the 28th, the main event unfolded that evening into the early morning of the 29th as a large swath of moderate-heavy snow pounded the area. Snow was convectively-enhanced, with thunder heard in the Hastings area as 2-3 of snow piled up there in a short time. By daybreak on the 29th, snow totals of 6-11 were common in the hardest-hit counties, including 10-11 at Kearney, Ord and Arcadia. While most storm-total snow occurred during this initial burst, widespread light, wind-blown snow persisted through the day on the 29th, tacking on an additional 1-2 for many places before finally ending for good in the evening. However, as noted above, wintry impacts were far from over, as the overall-strongest northwest winds (frequently gusting 40-50+ MPH) peaked during the night into the morning of the 30th, driving widespread blowing/drifting snow. Official peak gusts at area airports included: 57 MPH at Ord, 53 MPH at Grand Island and 47 MPH in Hastings. Fortunately, winds decreased modestly as the 30th wore on, allowing most main highways to re-open by day's end. Examining the meteorological setup behind this event, not surprisingly, a highly-organized/amplified large scale trough was the key player in the mid-upper levels. The primary vorticity maximum in the heart of this system tracked from: the Four Corners region on the evening of the 27th...to the NE/KS/CO border on the evening of the 28th (when heavy snow pounded the local area)...to the western IA/MN border on the evening of the 29th (deepening substantially over the course of those 24 hours)...and finally reaching the Upper Great Lakes by the evening of the 30th. Meanwhile, the main surface low tracked from northeast KS to western IA during the period of heaviest snow on the evening of the 28th (central pressure around 996 millibars), then slowly lifting into southwest MN by the evening of the 29th (994 millibars). In textbook form, this time frame featured the overall-worst winds in South Central Nebraska, directly correlated with the storm's peak surface pressure gradient across the state (a notable 20-millibar disparity between the far northeast corner and the far western Panhandle).

Winter Storm in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals per NWS cooperative observers included: 13.2 two miles west of Arcadia, 12.2 in Ord and 11 in North Loup. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 8-13.

Winter Storm in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals included 11 eight miles north-northeast of Scotia (CoCoRaHS) and 7.7 in Greeley (NWS cooperative observer). According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 6-12.

Winter Storm in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals included 11 two miles northwest of Rockville (CoCoRaHS) and 10 in Loup City (NWS cooperative observer). According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 8-12.

Winter Storm in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals included 11.5 two miles west of Elba (CoCoRaHS) and 7.2 in St. Paul (NWS cooperative observer). According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 4-12 (lowest east, highest west).

Winter Storm in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Storm total snow totals included 8.5 three miles west-southwest of Wood River (CoCoRaHS) and 3.7 at Grand Island airport (NWS observer). According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, totals across the county varied considerably, from as little as 1-2 far southeast to at least 8-10 in the west.

Winter Storm in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals per NWS cooperative observers included: 11.1 at Kearney airport, 11 at Ravenna and 9.5 at Miller. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 6-12.

Winter Storm in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Storm total snow totals per CoCoRaHS observers included 12 in the Sumner area. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 6-12.

Winter Storm in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow per the NWS cooperative observer in Minden was 7.5. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, totals across most of the county ranged from 4-10 (highest north).

Winter Storm in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow per the NWS cooperative observer in Holdrege was 6. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, totals across most of the county ranged from 4-10 (lowest south, highest north).

Winter Storm in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals per NWS cooperative observers included: 6.5 eight miles south of Elwood and 6 six miles south-southeast of Lexington. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 4-8.

Winter Weather in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Storm total snowfall at the NWS Hastings office was 3.7.  According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, totals across the county varied considerably, from as little as 1-3 east to as much as around 6 far west-northwest.

Winter Weather in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 23:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals per NOHRSC national snowfall analysis ranged from less than 1 in eastern portions of the county, to as much as 3 far west.

Winter Weather in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 23:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Storm total snow totals per NOHRSC national snowfall analysis ranged from around 1 in eastern portions of the county, to as much as 3-4 far west.

Winter Weather in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 23:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow per the NWS cooperative observer in Belgrade was 2.5. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, totals across most of the county ranged from only around 1 far east to as much as 4-5 far west.

Winter Weather in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snowfall (per NWS cooperative observers and NOHRSC national snowfall analysis) ranged from 2-5 across most of the county.

Winter Weather in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals per NWS cooperative observers included: 5 at Harlan County Lake and 4.3 near Orleans. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 3-5.

Winter Weather in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals per NWS cooperative observers included: 4 at Cambridge, Edison and Wilsonville, 5.2 mix miles north-northwest of Oxford and 5.4 at Beaver City. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 3-5.

Winter Weather in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 28-DEC-19 21:00:00 to 29-DEC-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snow totals per NWS cooperative observers included: 2.6 near Blue Hill and 2 at Red Cloud. According to NOHRSC national snowfall analysis, most of the county received between 1-3 (highest northwest).