Snow in west, rain in east

Sunshine is on the way for Halloween weekend. But in the meantime, much of the Great Plains is digging out of the season's first widespread winter storm.

Heavy, drifting snow closed some roads and rural schools in central and western Nebraska. Additional problems are expected in that region overnight, including slush and melting snow refreeze.

For the eastern end of the state, Friday morning could be damp again as the storm system slowly moves out.

“There might be some light rain and drizzle around Friday morning,” said Dave Fobert, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Valley.

“It could be on the dreary side, but the main area of rain will move out tonight,” he said.

Fobert estimated that rainfall totals in the metro area could reach about 1.25 inches as the storm moves out. The heavier rain, he said, fell further east.

The weather should begin clearing later Friday, Fobert said, which means trick-or-treaters in eastern Nebraska shouldn't encounter scary weather Saturday evening.

Highs on Saturday in the metro area are expected to reach the mid-50s and winds should be a modest 5 mph to 10 mph, Fobert said.

On Thursday, however, those in central and western Nebraska were still hunkered down under the heavy snow.

Numerous rural districts closed because of problems with blowing and drifting snow. Schools in larger communities, such as Gering, Scottsbluff and Chadron, remained open.

Westbound Interstate 80 was closed in Nebraska for the final 100 miles before the Wyoming border because of closures in that state and Colorado. Eastbound I-80 remained open, however.

Other road closings:

- Highway 30, which runs parallel to I-80, is closed in both directions, beginning at Big Springs.

- Westbound Highway 20, in northwest Nebraska, closed beginning at Harrison and into Wyoming, according to the highway departments in both states.

Bob Bennett, director of Public Works for Scotts Bluff County, said his crews were keeping up with the snow and hadn't had to close roads.

But tonight, the wind could change that. Six to 10 inches of snow had fallen around Scottsbluff by Thursday morning. Sustained winds of 15 mph to 30 mph are forecast tonight.

“The wind is not going to be fun,” Bennett said.

Portions of Nebraska already have seen plenty of snow this month.
With this storm, North Platte is adding to its new October record for snowfall, said Bill Taylor, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Cheynne, Wyo., also is setting a new record for October snowfall
.

Taylor said the northern Panhandle had received the heaviest snowfall, with totals ranging from 7 to 12 inches and snow still falling.

Taylor estimated that snowfall totals in the Panhandle would top out around 15 inches, with the most snow falling in the Rushville area.

Contact the writer:

444-1102, nancy.gaarder@owh.com