Lincoln likely to see its first accumulating snow this winter on Friday
Thursday turned out to be quite a balmy day across southeast Nebraska. Afternoon sunshine allowed temperatures to reach 60° both in Lincoln and Beatrice!
Clouds have returned yet again as of Thursday evening – and this time they will stick around for a longer period of time. We’re forecasting overcast skies into Friday morning with a low of 32°. We should remain dry overnight and into Friday morning.
Friday will feature lots of clouds ahead of our next storm system. Highs should only top out in the upper-30s with afternoon and evening snow becoming likely in Lincoln. Winds should be breezy on Friday, which could result in a few periods of reduced visibility once the snow starts.
As far as timing is concerned, locations near Broken Bow, Greeley, and Ord should start to see some snow during the late morning to early afternoon hours. The Tri-Cities are looking at a timeframe closer to Noon-3pm, and Lincoln is looking at an onset time in the mid to late afternoon.
Some guidance is suggesting the possibility of a light wintry mix to precede the snow on Friday afternoon for southeast Nebraska. This would likely be in the form of freezing drizzle. The dynamics and thermodynamics have to play out just right for this, so it’s not a guarantee – just a possibility at this point. Something to keep in mind!
Regardless, snow begins to overspread Lincoln prior to or during the evening commute. Being that this could be the first accumulating snow in the capital city this season, please be extra cautious while driving as a few spots could be slick. That said, this does not look like a major snow event for Lincoln.
As far as accumulations go, we’re looking at less than an inch in Lincoln as things look right now. Totals quickly rise to the north. Northern Lancaster County should see nearly 1″, along with York, Seward, and Grand Island. Excess of 2″ becomes more likely farther north. While we’ve included our southern communities in this snow forecast, accumulations will be less impressive. There’s a chance that some to the south may just get a dusting or nothing at all.
As is always the case with snow, the forecast can change as new information becomes available – even one day out. Keep checking back for the latest!
Temperatures will be below freezing on Saturday morning, so there could be a few slick spots if driving early Saturday. Winter begins a vacation this weekend as temperatures warm back into the 40s on Saturday and 50s on Sunday. We may even reach the 70s by next Wednesday!
Meteorologist Malcolm Byron
Facebook: /mbyronwx
Twitter: @mbyronwx
