National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

It's Christmas and We're Having a Blizzard!

Blizzard conditions are expected across Nebraska and far northern Kansas tonight. A Blizzard Warning is posted for all of south central Nebraska and Phillips, Smith and Jewell Counties in north central Kansas until 6:00 A.M. Saturday. Do not travel until this storm passes!  Highways are already closed or impassable in parts of the area.   

Pictures from around the Hastings NWS office on Christmas Morning.

The harshest conditions will be across south central Nebraska and extreme northern Kansas through tonight. Here is what you should expect:

• White-out conditions in snow and blowing snow through tonight. Visibilities will be frequently down to less than one-quarter mile. Visibilities in open country will near zero at times.
• Winds of 35 to 55 mph are forecast through midnight tonight. (page down for top windspeeds so far)
  
• Periods of light snow through the night. Additional snowfall will range from 1 to 3 inches tonight.
  
• No improvement in these conditions until Saturday morning, although winds will still gust over 30 mph on Saturday.
• While some snow removal may take place on major highways or snow routes, do not expect any snow removal in your area. Most cities and counties have stopping plowing until the wind sufficiently diminishes.
• The combination of wind, cold and overall blizzard conditions will be life threatening should you choose to go outside or travel through tonight. 

Though slightly less severe, very hazardous conditions will prevail across the part of north central Kansas south of U.S. Highway 24. A Winter Weather Advisory is posted until 6:00 P.M. Saturday for Rooks, Osborne and Mitchell counties.  Here is what you can expect in those areas:

• Reduced visibilities with light snow and blowing snow. Visibilities may be down to one-half mile or less at times.

• Ice and snow covered roads, especially where snow had fallen on Wednesday and where an additional inch or so could fall today.
• Bitter cold wind chills, at times down to 15 below zero.
• 1 to 2 inches of snow accumulation tonight

  Top winds have been over 50 mph at several locations. The strongest winds will continue into early this evening. Here is a list of highest wind gusts through 2:30 P.M.