By Jackie Ourada , Nebraska Public Media
Nebraska –The National Weather Service predicts some parts of southeastern Nebraska could see up to 14 inches of snow by Sunday night.
NWS meteorologists believe a wintry mix will move through south central and southeastern Nebraska by Saturday evening and then give way to heavy snow overnight Saturday night into Sunday afternoon.
Southeast Nebraska could see snow accumulations between six and 14 inches. Western, central and northern parts of Nebraska could see anywhere from a trace to four inches of snow. Weather updates from the National Weather Service’s Valley office, covering eastern Nebraska, can be found here.
“For a lot of us, it’s going to be the first real test of our mettle for winter here in 2024 and 2025,” National Weather Service meteorologist Taylor Nicolaisen said. “It’s going to get ugly out there with that combination of snow and really biting temperatures, especially early in the morning hours.”
The winter storm pushing through Nebraska this weekend will bring temperatures into single digits with wind chills well below zero. Highs between Sunday and Tuesday are only expected to hit the teens.
“We’re expecting come breezy conditions, so that’s going to push what it feels like to the human body well below zero,” Nicolaisen said. “Of course, the coldest time period is early in the morning when kids are trying to get to school, trying to walk to school or wait for the bus.”
Nicolaisen said it’s best to limit time outside when temps reach dangerously low digits, but if people must travel outside to get to work or tend to farm animals, they should dress in several warm layers with a knitted hat, scarf, mittens and thick boots.
“Make sure your 14-year-old knows he’s got to wear some pants to school for next week,” Nicolaisen said.
Nicolaisen added a cold temperature is dangerous in its own right, but sharp, biting winds can be deadly for people who are outside without proper clothing.
“That wind is what steals heat from you,” Nicolaisen said. “Put on a couple of different layers – ones that will defeat that wind and keep that heat against your body – and just make sure you’ve got a way to warm yourself up if that cold is getting to you. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, unable to warm up.”
Nebraskans traveling during the storm should check road conditions and snow-related road closures.
The State Patrol will have troopers out during the winter storm helping motorists who get stranded in the blowing snow. Drivers who slide off the road or encounter issues while waiting out the storm can dial *55 to request help from a State Patrol trooper.
“That’s probably the biggest thing that we tell people,” NSP Public Relations Director Cody Thomas said. “Stay with your vehicle and call for help. When a trooper responds to a situation like that, most of the time, it’s just to get that person out of the vehicle and get them to safety.”
Thomas recommended people should contact the Nebraska State Patrol even if they slide off the road and are having a difficult time getting back on.
“Because if you have slid off the road, the chances of somebody else sliding off the road are just as high,” Thomas said. “We don’t want somebody in one of those secondary crashes, where they’re in their vehicle, and they get hit by another vehicle that loses control.”
Thomas said most of the weather-related crashes that troopers respond to are caused by motorists driving too fast for the conditions.
“Nebraska drivers know how to drive in the snow, but there’s always a good reminder from that first snowstorm to get back in the winter driving mindset,” Thomas said.
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