NWS warns of major winter storm over the weekend

HASTINGS, Neb. — Parts of Nebraska will likely see the first major winter storm event of the season this weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for 16 counties in Southeast Nebraska lasting from 9:00 Saturday morning to 6:00 Sunday night. Most of Central Nebraska will be in a Winter Weather Advisory during that time.

NWS forecasters predict that parts of Southeast Nebraska, like Hebron and Beatrice, could receive as much as eight inches of snow. The snow totals are expected to drop the further north and west you go with Lincoln and Hastings in the 4-6 inch range and Grand Island and Kearney in the 3-4 inch range.

The first impacts from the storm are expected to happen during the day. Most of the southern half of the state will likely experience freezing drizzle that will create a glaze on the ground. Snow could start falling on Saturday afternoon, but the highest snowfall rates are expected to be in the overnight hours into Sunday morning. Snow should be finished by noon on Sunday.

Forecasters say the freezing drizzle and snow will be accompanied by wind gusts that peak between 35-32 mph on Sunday. Cold temperatures combined with the wind could create wind chill values more than -10 for most of the day on Sunday and into Monday morning.

The NWS warns that the storm could bring major impacts to parts of the state. Officials urge Nebraskans to be prepared for severe winter weather.