Grand Island, NE – A messy Fall system will slide into south central Nebraska late this evening, starting with pockets of light freezing drizzle and freezing rain before switching to accumulating snow by daybreak Saturday. Travel will worsen quickly overnight as surfaces glaze and winds strengthen.
According to the National Weather Service Hastings office, a Winter Weather Advisory runs from 9 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Saturday for Hall, Hamilton, York, Merrick, Polk, Howard, Sherman, Greeley, Valley, Dawson, Buffalo, Phelps, Adams, Kearney, Clay, and Fillmore counties. Snow totals will range from 1 to 3 inches, with a localized 4-inch band possible from Columbus toward York. Ice accretion near one-tenth of an inch is possible before the transition to snow. Northwest winds will gust to 45 mph late Saturday morning, producing blowing snow and sudden drops in visibility.
According to Nebraska DOT, early freezing drizzle will glaze bridges and overpasses on I-80, US-281, and NE-14 before plows can make progress. Mixed precipitation will limit pretreatment effectiveness. Drivers should slow down, avoid abrupt stops, and check 511 for real-time road conditions. By late morning Saturday, blowing snow may undo earlier plow work, especially across open farmland east of Grand Island.
According to Hall County emergency officials, brief slick conditions could impact late-evening errands and early Saturday shifts. Residents are urged to charge devices, keep winter kits in vehicles, and use caution on sidewalks, porches, and steps which may ice over quickly. Visibility may fall sharply in exposed areas once stronger winds arrive.
Snow will taper gradually Saturday afternoon, but gusty winds and subfreezing temperatures will keep many surfaces icy into the evening.
