textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Two rounds of impactful weather are expected over the holiday weekend. The first will arrive later today, bringing a chance for some snow to the region, particularly for areas along and north of a line from Omaha to Atlantic.

- A second round of wintry weather will occur tonight through Saturday. This will include the potential for some rain or freezing rain, some icing, and several inches of snow. Winter Weather Advisory and Winter Storm Warning headlines are in place for today and tomorrow.

- Cold settles in for the rest of the weekend and the start of next week. Temperatures will warm up Tuesday, persisting through the end of the forecast.

UPDATE

Issued at 956 AM CST Fri Nov 28 2025

Latest model data have trended cooler with temperature profiles, resulting in slightly higher snowfall totals along and east of a Creighton to Stanton to Blair to Oakland, IA line. As such, we have added Stanton, Dodge, Douglas, and Sarpy counties to the Winter Storm Warning.

A band of light snow is ongoing this morning in northeast NE with Norfolk currently reporting visibilities down to 3/4 miles and a dusting of snow, per road cameras. That snow band will continue to drift east through the remainder of the morning into this afternoon when additional light wintery precipitation is forecast to materialize across much of the area. Slick spots are likely to develop on roads in northeast NE this morning with those conditions expanding along and south of I-80 by as early as 3 to 4 PM.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 457 AM CST Fri Nov 28 2025

The forecast period begins with northwest flow over the Great Plains and a developing surface low over Wyoming and Montana. Later this morning, the low will slide south into western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and northwestern Kansas. Surface high pressure over Texas and Louisiana will result in return flow bringing moisture into eastern Nebraska/western Iowa through the day. Temperatures are going to be on the cold side, with highs in the 30s for areas along and south of Hwy 92, and struggling into the 20s for areas north. There will be increasing chances for a few snow showers for areas along and north of I-80 this morning into the afternoon hours. Models are showing a band of frontogenesis over portions of eastern Nebraska/western Iowa. However, soundings are showing saturation in the mid-levels, there remains dry air at the surface during the morning and into the afternoon. This will inhibit some of the potential early on for snow to reach the surface. As snow does develop and continue to fall, it should eventually start making it to the ground. Right now, the best chance for snowfall during the daytime hours will be for areas along and north of a line from Omaha to Atlantic (IA).

Friday night, the surface low will slide further south into western Kansas, before making its way across the state. As the low moves further to the east, it will be better able to tap into warm, moist Gulf air. Heading into the evening and overnight hours, there will be a period of time where some rain or freezing rain may occur, which will bring a chance for a light glaze of ice to a few hundredths to portions of the area. As the low moves into western Iowa Saturday morning, we will transition over to all snow. Initially, with the potential for rain/freezing rain transitioning to snow, SLR values are going to be lower than climatological values, in some instances around 4:1 or 5:1. This will result in a heavy, wet snow. We may have some issues with flash freezing on roads which will result in slick conditions. SLR values are expected to become a little closer to climatological values as we get colder air coming in around the low.

Expected snow totals have gone up in some locations, particularly heading further south toward the I-80 corridor and west. The Winter Storm Warning was expanded to include Cedar and Pottawattamie counties. The Winter Weather Advisory was also expanded due to an increase in snow amounts and some concerns about the potential for some impactful slick conditions along the I-80 corridor. Much of the snow should exit our NEbraska counties by Saturday evening and western Iowa by Sunday night. There may be some potential for a bit of blowing snow, which could also cause some travel impacts through Saturday night.

Heading into Sunday, the storm system will lift into the Great Lakes region, bringing a reprieve from the wintry weather. Temperatures will remain on the cold side, with highs struggling into the teens and 20s. Wind chills will be in the single digits and teens. Sunday night/Monday morning, temperatures will fall into the single digits for most areas, with low teens possible for areas along and south of I-80.

Monday, a shortwave will enter the region, bringing a 20-30% chance of a few snow showers to areas along and south of a line from Omaha to David City. Tuesday through the end of the forecast, we see a change in the pattern with northwest flow setting up. Expect a return to the 30s for high temperatures and the teens and 20s for lows.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 529 AM CST Fri Nov 28 2025

VFR conditions are expected for the morning and part of the afternoon at the terminals. A winter storm will be moving into the region today, bringing chances for some light snow showers today. This evening into tonight, there will be a possibility for some rain/freezing rain which will transition to snow. Some icing may be possible and reductions to visibility are expected heading into the latter part of the forecast period. Ceilings are expected to lower to MVFR to IFR.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST Saturday night for NEZ012-015-018-032>034-044-045-052-053. Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to midnight CST Saturday night for NEZ016-030-031-042-043-050-051- 065>068-078-090-091. Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST Saturday night for NEZ011-017. IA...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST Saturday night for IAZ043-055-056-069. Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to midnight CST Saturday night for IAZ079-080-090-091.