Between the late evening of Wednesday the 3rd and the early morning of Thursday the 4th, a quick-hitting system brought a somewhat-surprisingly-potent combination of a brief wintry mix, light snow accumulation, moderately-strong north winds and falling temperatures to most all of South Central Nebraska...causing plenty of travel issues for morning commuters. Numerous vehicle slide-offs and at least a handful of accidents occurred, including a few that closed portions of Interstate 80 for a time. This included a closure in the eastbound lanes between Overton and Elm Creek due to a jackknifed semi, and also a westbound closure due to an accident near the Giltner exit. Based solely on snowfall amounts, this event was not very impressive given that the vast majority of NWS coop and CoCoRaHS observers across the 24-county area reported no more than 1-2 inches (including in the Tri Cities). A few stations north of Interstate 80 checked in with a touch more, but even so, the highest official total was only 2.7 at Ravenna and Osceola. As a result, this was a classic case of minimal snow-but-higher impacts, as fairly strong winds (reducing visibility to one-half mile or less at times) and temperatures rapidly diving below freezing (prompting slick roads) exacerbated the situation.
As for event timing and evolution, the heaviest/steadiest precipitation concentrated within a fairly narrow, southwest-northeast oriented band that typically lasted 2-4 hours at most locations as it marched through, starting off in far western/northern counties such as Valley/Dawson as early as 10 p.m. to midnight, reaching central areas including the Tri Cities mainly 1-3 a.m. and eventually exiting far southeast counties such as Fillmore/Thayer between 5-7 a.m. Precipitation started out as a brief wintry mix before fully transitioning to snow, and as surface temperatures fell from well-up into the 30s F to well-down into the 20s during the night, precipitation efficiently froze onto roads. In addition, the stout north winds that accompanied the snow behind a cold front were commonly sustained 20-30 MPH and gusting up to around 40 MPH. In the mid-upper levels, the main player was a progressive shortwave trough diving east-southeast into the Central Plains out of the Northern Rockies. At the surface, the cold front that brought the moderately-strong north winds was drawn southward as a roughly 998 millibar low pressure center gradually migrated across Kansas from northwest-to-southeast between the evening of the 3rd and sunrise on the 4th.

Winter Weather in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snow totals of 2.0 inches occurred in Belgrade and also 2 miles west of Genoa. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A snow total of 2.0 inches fell two miles west of Palmer. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-21 00:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.7 inches occurred 4 miles north of Aurora. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-21 00:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.0 inch occurred in Clay Center and 0.8 inches fell 6 miles
east-southeast of Clay Center. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-21 00:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 2.7 inches occurred at Osceola, 2.5 inches fell in Polk, and 1.9 inches fell 3 miles northeast of Shelby. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-21 01:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.2 inches fell 3 miles west of Gresham and 1.0 inches fell 3 miles north of York. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-21 01:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.0 inches occurred at Geneva. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.0 inches occurred in Wilsonville and 0.8 inches fell 6 miles north-northwest of Oxford. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A total of 1.0 inch of snow fell in Franklin. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The entire county received at least a dusting of wind-blown snow, including a trace in Orleans. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-21 00:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A total of one-half inch of snow fell in Red Cloud. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred..

Winter Weather in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-21 00:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A snow total of 1.0 inch was reported 7 miles northeast of Superior. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 04-FEB-21 01:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.2 inches fell in Hebron and 0.5 inches fell in Hubbell. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A snow total of 2.0 inches was reported six miles southwest of Lexington (CoCoRaHS) and 1.0 inches occurred in Sumner (NWS observer). A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A total of 1.0 inch of snow accumulated in Holdrege. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.5 inches occurred at Ord, and 1.0 inch at North Loup. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snowfall total of 1.0 inches fell at the Canaday Steam Plant, located 6 miles south-southeast of Lexington. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.0 inches occurred at Loup City. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 2.7 inches fell in Ravenna, 2.0 inches fell in Kearney, and 1.4 inches fell in Miller. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 1.0 inches occurred at Minden. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A snow total of 1.5 inches occurred four miles east of Scotia (CoCoRaHS) and 0.8 inches occurred at Greeley (NWS observer). A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow total of 2.2 inches occurred at St. Paul. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A snow total of 1.4 inches occurred at the Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport. A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.

Winter Weather in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 03-FEB-21 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-21 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A snow total of 1.2 inches occurred the NWS Hastings office located 4 miles north of Hastings, while 1.0 inch was reported on the far south side of the city (NWS employee). A brief mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet quickly changed to snow with near 40 mph wind gusts. Light icing occurred.