A potentially dangerous situation for holiday travelers is shaping up for Greater Nebraska.
An arctic cold front will move through the region tomorrow morning, ushering in some bitter cold arctic air on gusty northerly winds. Highs tomorrow will fall throughout the day reaching the teens and lower 20's by evening from overnight lows tonight near or just under freezing. Watch for some patchy fog and mist tonight, which could freeze on some surfaces with mostly cloudy skies.
On Thursday, low pressure will be developing over eastern Colorado, destined to move across Kansas Thursday night into Friday, then northeastward into Minnesota Friday evening. This low will bring accumulating snow and strong, gusty winds on the order of 35 to 40mph beginning later tomorrow and extending through Friday. Some light snow could begin over western areas as early as late tomorrow morning, but should hold off in most areas until afternoon. There could be a light wintry mix for a time over southeastern areas like Lexington before a change over to snow.
By tomorrow evening, the snow should become steadier, then heavier during the overnight into Friday morning as lows drop toward the zero degree mark with gusty northerly winds. These winds will cause blowing and drifting of the snow, and very low wind chills, so travel is not at all recommended tomorrow night and Friday.
On Friday, snow will continue but should begin to taper down during the afternoon with highs only in the single digits with very gusty winds causing a continuation of blowing and drifting snow. Wind chills will be down into the minus teens to minus 30 degree range, making for very dangerous conditions for travel since you can become stranded in these conditions.
Additionally, if you are traveling by air, chances are that your flight will be delayed or cancelled if you are flying anywhere in the western half of the country since severe winter conditions are affecting at least portions or every state except Oklahoma and Texas.
The snow will have ended by Friday night, but blowing and drifting will continue with lows falling below zero with bitter wind chills. Right now, it looks like four to eight inches of snow will accumulate beginning tomorrow afternoon and continuing through Friday. However, these are preliminary totals and could change.
News Year's Day will be partly sunny and breezy, but very cold with highs only in the single digits and teens.
Stay tuned to News 2 for the latest on this winter storm situation.
Mike
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