North Platte, NE – A messy Fall storm will sweep across western and north-central Nebraska tonight, starting as freezing drizzle and mixed precipitation before transitioning to accumulating snow by early Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service North Platte office, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 9 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday for Lincoln, Custer, Logan, McPherson, Blaine, Loup, Hooker, Grant, Thomas, Sheridan, Cherry, Rock, Boyd, Holt, Wheeler, Garfield, and surrounding counties. Snow totals will range from 2 to 4 inches across the northern tier, while central counties around North Platte may see up to 3 inches, locally higher. Ice accretion near one-tenth of an inch is possible before the changeover. Gusts up to 40 mph will create blowing snow and sudden visibility drops around open rangeland.
According to Nebraska DOT, early mixed precipitation will glaze bridges and overpasses first along I-80, US-83, and NE-2. Crews warn that pretreatment will be limited by freezing drizzle, and compact snow is likely by dawn. Drivers should slow down, avoid abrupt braking, and check 511 for updated conditions. Ranch access roads and rural connectors between Valentine, Ainsworth, and Thedford may drift as winds increase.
According to Lincoln County emergency management, slick sidewalks and steps will develop quickly overnight as temperatures fall into the 20s. Residents should charge phones, move vehicles under cover if possible, and prepare for minor tree limb issues where ice briefly accumulates. Non-essential travel is best delayed until road crews make progress Saturday late morning.
Snow will diminish by midday, but cold air and strong winds will keep travel slow through the early afternoon.
