textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Some sleet, freezing drizzle, and freezing rain are still being reported this morning across portions of the region. The wintry mix will transition to all snow as the morning progresses.

- The heaviest snow is expected to occur within a snowband extending from southern Saline County through the Omaha metro and up into Harlan, Iowa. The highest snowfall amounts are expected in western Iowa while ice accumulations up to around one tenth of an inch are possible for areas along and south of a line from Seward to Lincoln to Clarinda.

- The Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory remain in effect through tonight. Travel will be difficult today due to ongoing precipitation and the potential for some blowing snow. - Expect the cold to continue through the start of next week. Monday will bring another chance for a few snow showers. Warmer weather will arrive Tuesday, sticking around through the end of the week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 418 AM CST Sat Nov 29 2025

Surface analysis shows a low pressure system continuing to move across Kansas and Oklahoma this morning, with warm air from the Gulf advecting into the region. A wintry mix of precipitation continues early this morning across the region, with snow, sleet, and freezing rain/drizzle expected to continue. Early this morning, two bands of snow have set up across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, sleet, light freezing drizzle, or freezing rain reported between the bands and toward the Nebraska/Missouri and Nebraska/Iowa borders. The drizzle has left several areas with a glaze of ice on surfaces.

The northernmost band is associated with an area of frontogenesis and has been increasing in intensity and coverage over the past few hours. The band currently extends from Beaver Crossing and Rising City through Valley up to Harlan and Tekamah. This band will slowly move to the east while also filling in to the south. This will eventually result in a transition from the freezing drizzle to snow for the Omaha metro area. A second band of snow extending from Wilber to Nebraska City to Shenandoah, Iowa has also developed, associated with another area of frontogenesis. Areas to the south of this band will continue to receive mixed precipitation through the morning and possibly into early afternoon. There is still some uncertainty in how much snow areas south of the I-80 corridor will see due to transition time with precipitation type. For areas along and south of a line from Lincoln to Clarinda, 1 to 3 inches of snow are possible through tonight. An isolated rumble of thunder may not be entirely out of the question with the southern band as well.

Heading into the afternoon, precipitation is expected to taper off from west to east. Most of the precipitation should be out of Nebraska by 8pm and out of our Iowa counties before midnight. Winds gusting as high as 35mph on the back side of this storm system will cause some blowing snow across the region; however, the strongest winds will not be co-located with the heavier snowfall. This will limit the potential for blizzard conditions; however, the blowing snow may result in some reductions to visibility and travel difficulties.

The forecast remains on track with the highest snowfall amounts (5-7 inches of additional accumulation) occurring in the Harlan and Missouri Valley areas, with lesser amounts heading to the west. Areas south of I-80 may still receive up to around a tenth of an inch of ice accumulation by the time this storm system has passed. Expect difficult travel conditions through the day, with things improving overnight into Sunday.

Bundle up if you plan on heading out the door Saturday night into Sunday. Lows by Sunday morning will bottom out in the single digits for areas north of Highway 92 and the low to mid-teens for areas south. Wind chill values will fall to the single digits below zero for most of us, with a few single digits above zero in extreme southeastern Nebraska. Sunday high temperatures will be fairly cold, reaching the teens for areas along and north of a line from Harlan, Iowa to Columbus, Nebraska. Monday morning will be cold as well with highs in the single digits to around 10 degrees for Lincoln and areas north. Areas toward the Kansas/Nebraska/Missouri border can expect temperatures in the low teens to around 15 degrees. Wind chills will be mainly in the single digits.

Monday morning, a mid-level shortwave trough will cross central and southern Kansas, bringing a 30-60% chance for some snow to eastern Nebraska/western Iowa. Unlike the current storm, Monday's event is not expected to be mixed-phase precipitation, and should be all snow. SLR values are currently forecasted to range from around 16:1 to 18:1, resulting in more of a powdery snow.

Tuesday through the end of the forecast period, northwest flow sets up over the region. Expect some slightly warmer temperatures with highs returning to the mid-20s to mid-30s for Tuesday and Wednesday. Expect a cool down again Wednesday night/Thursday morning, with lows in the single digits above and below zero. Thursday's high temperatures will struggle into the teens for western Iowa and the teens to low 20s for eastern Nebraska.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1115 AM CST Sat Nov 29 2025

As of 11 AM (17z), the back edge of a moderate snow band extends along a Fremont-Wahoo-Lincoln line. Extrapolation of current motion would bring higher snow rates into KOMA between 18-19z with decreasing rates and perhaps an end to the snow at KLNK within the next hour or so. Snow rates are expected to decrease at KOMA after 19z with improving visibilities. Some light snow or flurries may persist at KOFK this afternoon, but visibilities are expected to remain above 6SM.

While prevailing MVFR ceilings are forecast, visible satellite data indicate cloud breaks occurring across south-central NE. So, it's not out of the question that periods of VFR conditions could develop at KLNK later this afternoon. Finally, north- northwest winds will strengthen markedly this afternoon with gusts as high as 30-35 kt. The strong winds will continue through this evening before diminishing overnight into Sunday morning.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST tonight for NEZ012-015- 018-032>034-044-045-052-053. Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for NEZ011- 016-017-030-031-042-043-050-051-065>068-078-088>093. IA...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST tonight for IAZ043-055- 056-069. Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for IAZ079- 080-090-091.