Saturday, December 26, 2009

Friday, December 25, 2009

IMPORTANT UPDATE 6:20 AM DEC 23, 2009

BLIZZARD WARNING

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE

616 AM CST FRI DEC 25 2009

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SATURDAY...

* STRONG WINDS...BLOWING SNOW...AND PERIODS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT.

* SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS FOR TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT WILL RANGE FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES.

* WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH ARE LIKELY INTO TONIGHT. THIS WILL CREATE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...WITH WHITE OUT SITUATIONS IN OPEN COUNTRY.

* TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL BE DANGEROUS THROUGH TONIGHT AND TRAVEL SHOULD BE AVOIDED. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND SNOWFALL WILL CREATE SIGNIFICANT DRIFTING SNOW AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
A winter storm system will continue to make its presence known across the region today. Here are some of the details:

Strong northwest winds will lead to Blizzard conditions across parts of south central Nebraska through tonight. Sustained speeds of 25 to 40 mph will be common and gusts may exceed 50 mph at times. Blowing and drifting snow, along with white out conditions are likely, especially in open country. A Blizzard Warning is in effect through tonight for areas generally north of a line from Gothenburg to Hebron in south central Nebraska. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect south of that line.

* Snow has been spreading south across central Nebraska, and this area of snow is expected to expand in coverage today. This snow is wrapping around the backside of a very powerful low pressure system which will be shifting north into Iowa today and eventaully the Upper Mississippi River Valley through the weekend.

* Travel conditions will remain dangerous into tonight, and is not recommened in the area covered by the Blizzard Warning. Ice and snow covered roads should be anticipated with significant snow drifts also likely. The combination of snow and strong winds, will also create white out conditions with near zero visibility.

SEE IMAGES BELOW

Thursday, December 24, 2009

ADVISORY-WARNING

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST FRIDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM CST
SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HASTINGS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6
AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW
IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST FRIDAY.

* STRONG WINDS...BLOWING SNOW...AND PERIODS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST
THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

* ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT WILL RANGE FROM 2 TO 5
INCHES. THE HEAVIER AMOUNTS APPEAR MORE LIKELY NORTH AND EAST OF
A LINE FROM ORD...TO GRAND ISLAND...TO YORK. MOST OF THE
ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL FALL ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND INTO FRIDAY
EVENING...BUT SOME AREAS WILL PICK UP AN INCH OR SO THIS
EVENING...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 281.

* HIGH WINDS GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH WILL BE COMMON THROUGH
FRIDAY NIGHT. GUSTS OVER 50 MPH ARE LIKELY DURING THE DAY
FRIDAY. THIS WILL CREATE BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS AT TIMES...AND
WHITE OUT SITUATIONS IN OPEN COUNTRY.

* TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL BE DANGEROUS ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND ALL
TRAVEL SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED FOR DANGEROUS WINTER STORM
CONDITIONS...INCLUDING SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND EXTREME COLD.
CLICK HERE FOR LATEST WEATHER SERVICE & NEBRASKA DEPT OF ROADS UPDATE

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Update 11 PM 12/23

Alert:

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST FRIDAY.

* OFF AND ON LIGHT SNOW OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL COMBINE WITH VERY
STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS TO PRODUCE WINTER STORM CONDITIONS
ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL THROUGH
CHRISTMAS DAY.

* AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF SNOW MAY FALL OVERNIGHT WITH ANOTHER 2 TO
4 INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH FRIDAY.

* LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE MAY ALSO DEVELOP TONIGHT MAINLY SOUTHEAST
OF HASTINGS.

* HIGH WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY. WINDS OF 30 TO
40 MPH WILL BE COMMON...WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE.

* LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVED FREEZING RAIN TUESDAY NIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY MAY EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH POWER LINES AND TREE
BRANCHES BREAKING ONCE THE STRONG WINDS PICK UP.

Instructions: A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COMBINATION OF SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...HIGH WINDS...AND OVERALL WINTER STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. TRY TO LIMIT YOUR TRAVEL TO ESSENTIAL SITUATIONS ONLY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

December 23 7 PM

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT ACROSS THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILED STORM INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT ACROSS THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH 6 PM CST FRIDAY.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

DECEMBER 23, 2009

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 12/23/09

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... ...

BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT. A BLIZZARD WATCH RE MAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

* FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. THE MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO SNOW BY THIS EVENING...AND LINGER THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY.

* ICING WILL BE MOST LIKELY SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM GENEVA NEBRASKA...TO FRANKLIN...TO STOCK TON KANSAS. UP TO ONE QUARTER INCH OF ICE IS LIKELY BY LATE WEDNESDAY MORNING IN THAT AREA.

* SNOW WILL BECOME MORE PREVALENT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW EX PECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL WILL ADD UP TO 4 TO 10 INCHES...BUT WILL BE IMPACTED BY HOW MUCH ICE ACCUMULATES PRIOR TO THE SNOW.

* BY DAWN THURSDAY...VERY STRONG NORTH NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH WILL OVERTAKE THE REGION. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH CHRISTMAS EVE NIGHT...WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY.

* IMPACTS FROM THIS STORM WILL BE FAR REACHING...AND LAST THROUGH AT LEAST CHRISTMAS DAY. INITIALLY...TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT FROM ICE ACCUMULATION. POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY AS THE WIND INCREASES BY THURSDAY MORNING. WHITE OUT CONDITIONS WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS TO IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS UNLIKELY ROAD CREWS WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ONCE THE STRONGEST WINDS KICK IN. IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY...CHANGE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS NOW TO HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY.

4 AM DECEMBER 23, 2009

FORECAST DISCUSSION

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
348 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009

.DISCUSSION...MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS WILL BE WINTER WEATHER AFFECTING THE AREA TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

CURRENT RADAR INDICATES THAT THERE IS AN AREA OF PRECIPITATION JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING. EXPECT THAT THIS IS MOST LIKELY FREEZING RAIN. FREEZING DRIZZLE HAS SPREAD ACROSS MUCH IF NOT ALL OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE EVENING. FROM REPORTS IT SEEMS THAT SLIPPERY CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND AROUND THE AREA.

MODELS HAVE MADE SOME FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE LOOK OF THIS STORM. THE MAIN UPPER LEVEL LOW IS FURTHER SOUTH THAN PREVIOUS RUNS AND THE TIMING AND LOCATION HAVE CHANGED. HATE TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES ON JUST ONE MODEL RUN...BUT HAVE TRENDED TOWARD THE LATEST RUN.

FOR TODAY THE FREEZING DRIZZLE OR FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD NORTH ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING AS THE FIRST UPPER WAVE MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. FAIRLY GOOD QPF IS POSSIBLE AS THIS MOVES THROUGH. THE CONCERN IS MAINLY PRECIPITATION TYPE. THERE IS STILL A FAIRLY TIGHT TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ALOFT...PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE FORECAST AREA. BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF COOL THE TEMPERATURES ALOFT FAIRLY QUICKLY TODAY. THE NORTHWEST IS STILL FAIRLY LIKELY TO SEE SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE THIS MORNING UNTIL THE DENDRITIC LAYER MOISTENS UP...BUT THAT SHOULD BE EASILY BY MID DAY. THERE REMAINS A WARM LAYER ALOFT FOR THE MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING...BUT DURING THE AFTERNOON THAT APPEARS TO RETREAT TO THE SOUTHEAST AND BY THIS EVENING MIXED FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW SHOULD CHANGE TO SNOW FOR THE FORECAST AREA.

HERE IS WHERE MODELS TEND TO DIVERGE FROM PREVIOUS RUNS. WITH THE UPPER LOW FURTHER SOUTHEAST THE DRY SLOT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. AM STILL PLANNING TO KEEP SNOW ACROSS THE AREA...BUT WILL TREND TOWARDS LOWER AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND LIGHT AS OPPOSED TO MODERATE SNOW. THIS LIGHTER PERIOD FOR SNOW SHOULD BE MAINLY FROM LATER TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY.

THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY THE UPPER LOW MOVES FROM EASTERN OKLAHOMA TO CENTRAL IOWA. THIS SHOULD BEING SOME WRAP AROUND SNOW INTO THE NORTH THURSDAY NIGHT AND ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY. THIS SHOULD BE HEAVIER SNOW AGAIN WITH GREATER AMOUNTS EXPECTED.

IN ADDITION TO THE PRECIPITATION AS THE SURFACE GRADIENT TIGHTENS WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE. EXPECT WINDS TO INCREASE DURING THE NIGHT TONIGHT AND SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF FRIDAY. THIS WILL CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. THE LOW FINALLY MOVES FAR ENOUGH TO THE NORTHEAST FRIDAY NIGHT THAT SNOW WILL GRADUALLY COME TO AN END.

December 23, 2009

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1047 PM CST TUE DEC 22 2009

.AVIATION...06Z TAF. PERIODS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL PERSIST AT KGRI TONIGHT WITH CEILINGS BELOW 500FT AND VISIBILITIES 2 MILES OR LESS. THE PRECIPITATION WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY WEDNESDAY MORNING AFTER 12Z...AND AS THAT HAPPENS THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD TRANSITION TO SNOW. NOT SURE HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE TO PLACE IN THE VARIOUS MODELS SOLUTIONS STILL...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE SNOW WILL LIKELY BE HEAVIEST FROM MID TO LATE WEDNESDAY MORNING INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...BUT COULD DIMINISH IN INTENSITY SOMEWHAT WEDNESDAY EVENING. WILL KEEP CATEGORICAL SNOW IN THE FORECAST AT KGRI...BUT MAY IMPROVE THE VISIBILITY A BIT WEDNESDAY EVENING.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

MULTI-MEDIA UPDATE

CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MULTI-MEDIA UPDATE

10:30 AM DECEMBER 22

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN HASTINGS.

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS MAY CHANGE AS MOISTURE CONTENT AND TEMPERATURES CHANGE.

STAY ALERT AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION.

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT CST WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT CST WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

* A WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS TONIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS MORNING.

* PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN THIS EVENING AS A WINTRY MIX OF
FREEZING RAIN...SLEET OR SNOW BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO ALL SNOW
BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
THURSDAY NIGHT BEFORE ENDING ON FRIDAY. NORTH WINDS WILL
INCREASE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND REMAIN STRONG THROUGH FRIDAY WITH
WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH POSSIBLE.

* SNOWFALL AMOUNTS MAY TOTAL 6 TO 10 INCHES. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL
BE DEPENDENT UPON WHEN THE WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION CHANGES
TO SNOW.

* WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE WEDNESDAY AND
TRAVEL MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY DUE
TO THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOWFALL AND VERY STRONG NORTH
WINDS. WHITE OUT OR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE AFTER
MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO CHRISTMAS DAY.

Monday, December 21, 2009

BLIZZARD WATCH

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE

...WINTER WEATHER STARTS TUESDAY NIGHT WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS POSSIBLE BY THE END OF THE WEEK...

.AN INTENSE WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE CENTRAL PLAINS TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY MORNING. PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN TUESDAY NIGHT AND MAY START AS A WINTRY MIX PRIOR TO CHANGING TO ALL SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW WHEN COMBINED WITH STRONG NORTH WINDS WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...MAY LEAD TO TREACHEROUS OR IM POSSIBLE TRAVEL ESPECIALLY CHRISTMAS EVE INTO CHRISTMAS DAY.

December 21 6PM Update

NWS HASTINGS:

A potent winter storm system continues to target the Central Plains this week, and holiday travelers will want to keep a close eye on this storm system, as widespread wintry precipitation and significant snow accumulations are possible. Intense north winds will become a major player in the storm late Wednesday night through Christmas Day morning and may cause white out or blizzard conditions.

Based on the current track of the system, the information below summarizes the expected weather conditions:

* A wintry mix of precipitation in the form of freezing rain, sleet or snow is expected to begin Tuesday night.
* The precipitation should change to snow Wednesday, north of a line from Osceola to Hastings to Alma, NE. The wintry mix may continue south of that line on Wednesday. Rain is possible Wednesday south of a line from Jewell to Osborne, Kansas.
* The precipitation should change to all snow Wednesday night. Snow is expected to continue Thursday (Christmas Eve) and end on Christmas Day.
* Snowfall amounts will ultimately depend upon the track of the system and the timing of the changeover to snow. The potential also exists for some ice accumulation. Preliminary snowfall totals range from 8 to 14 inches, and are shown on the map below.
* North winds are expected to increase Wednesday night and remain strong through Christmas Day. Wind gusts in excess of 40 mph are possible.
* Winter Storm Watches and Blizzard Watches have been posted for this storm system. Travel is expected to be treachorous if not impossible during the height of the storm (Wednesday night through Christmas morning).

DECEMBER 21, 2009

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS:

...A MAJOR WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.A STRONG WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL START TO IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS TUESDAY NIGHT. A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION INCLUDING FREEZING DRIZZLE...SLEET AND SNOW ARE ALL POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION WINDS WILL INCREASE ON WEDNESDAY AND AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ARE POSSIBLE. HEAVY SNOW...ICE AND BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW MAY CAUSE DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS DURING PEAK HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIMES.

* A WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS MAINLY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.

* A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TUESDAY NIGHT...THEN GRADUALLY CHANGING OVER TO SNOW WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WINDS WILL INCREASE WEDNESDAY AND AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ARE EXPECTED.

* SNOWFALL OF 7 TO 14 INCHES IS POSSIBLE DEPENDING ON WHEN THE WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION CHANGES TO SNOW. DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITH ICE AND SNOW COMPOUNDED WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Monday, December 7, 2009

SEVERE WINTER WEATHER EVENT

DONIPHAN-TRUMBULL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY DECEMBER 8TH.
ALL SCHOOL EVENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN CANCELLED.

FOR FORECAST DETAILS CLICK HERE

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

THERE ARE NO CURRENT SITUATIONS BEING MONITORED AT THIS TIME.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BE PREPARED FOR SEVERE WINTER WEATHER.
WHEN WINTER TEMPERATURES DROP SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW NORMAL, STAYING WARM AND SAFE CAN BECOME A CHALLENGE. TAKING PREVENTATIVE ACTION IS YOUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST HAVING TO DEAL WITH COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN RESULT FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO COLD.

TO LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND PREPARE FOR WINTER CLICK HERE