textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow, heavy at times, overspreading area today into this evening. Plan for difficult travel due to near-zero visibility and snow-covered roads, especially from late this afternoon into tonight. - Highest accumulations of up to 4-7" are forecast along a line from Albion and Columbus through Fremont, the northern Omaha metro and Blair to Harlan, Iowa. Amounts are expected to decrease with northward and southward extent away from that line.

- Additional light snow is possible (20-40% PoPs) Friday night in southeast Nebraska with only minor accumulations expected.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1050 AM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

Rest of today and tonight:

Mid-morning water vapor imagery shows a potent shortwave trough moving through central NE with an associated belt of forcing for ascent beginning to overspread our area. Much of the initial lift will go into top-down saturation of an initially dry low- level air mass. We are starting to see some light snow in the northwest part of our area (Albion and Neligh vicinities) with the snow steadily spreading east across the area through the remainder of today. The 12z high-resolution models still vary to some extent with the axis of heaviest snowfall, but the general consensus is a slight northward shift from previous model runs. Steep mid-level lapse rates evident on the 12z TOP sounding will support some upright convective development, especially from near/just north of the Omaha metro into southwest IA this afternoon, where some sleet and a few lightning strikes are possible. Highest snow rates approaching 1"/hr are most probable from 4-8 PM in those same locations.

This forecast update will indicate a slight northward shift in the heavy-snow axis (4-7" accumulations), generally from Albion and Columbus through Fremont, the northern Omaha metro/Blair to Harlan, IA. Accordingly, Shelby County has been added to the Winter Storm Warning. As we have been messaging, travel will be difficult in those areas later this afternoon into tonight due to near-zero visibilities and snow-covered roads.

The snow is expected to taper off from west-to-east across the area tonight.

In regard to temperatures, we have lowered readings today owing to the persistent low-level cold advection occurring to the north of a surface low currently located just west of Kansas City.

Friday through Monday:

It will remain cool this period with highs mainly in the 30s. This is especially the case in areas that receive higher snowfall accumulation. The models continue to indicate the potential for some light snow Friday night (20-40% PoPs) in southeast NE with only a minor accumulation possible.

Tuesday and Wednesday:

The 12z global models indicate the development of zonal flow aloft, which will support a warmer, low-level pattern with highs in the 50s and 60s.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1114 AM CST Thu Feb 19 2026

A winter storm will move through the region this afternoon through this evening. MVFR ceilings at OFK will continue to spread eastward towards LNK and then OMA over the next couple of hours. Light snow will develop shortly after these reduced ceilings. Snow is expected to increase in intensity during the late afternoon and early evening. Heavier snow is expected to consistently reduce visibility to MVFR. Visibility and ceilings may fall to IFR at times in the heaviest snow, especially with strong winds expected. Brief visibility reductions to 1/2 mile or less may be possible. Winds through this afternoon and evening remain strong with speeds around 20 kts and gusts upwards of 30 kts. Snow should gradually taper off late this evening from west to east. Visibility and ceilings may be slow to improve due to blowing snow, but a gradual increase from low end MVFR to low end VFR conditions is anticipated as we head into tonight. This will be in conjunction with a gradual weakening of the winds.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Friday for NEZ015-033- 034-065>067. Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Friday for NEZ043>045- 050>053. Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for NEZ016>018-031-032. Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST tonight for NEZ030-042. IA...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Friday for IAZ043-079- 080. Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Friday for IAZ055-056-069.