textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow continues across northeast Nebraska and western Iowa. Expect slick, snow-covered roads near the South Dakota border, where 2-4" of snow is expected and a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect.

- Temperatures turn much colder through Sunday before warming again by Monday. Tonight will be the coldest night, with lows in the single digits above and below 0 and wind chills approaching 20 below in some spots.

- Warming temperatures expected going into early next week with above-normal temperatures likely through the first half of the week, dropping down to near normal toward the end of the week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 325 AM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

The forecasted snow band has developed across southeastern South Dakota and far northeastern Nebraska extending southeastward into central Iowa. Cameras at Hartington, Emerson, southeastward down into Onawa show snow-covered roads with additional snow on the way. This snow band is forecast to gradually sink southward until the snowfall wraps up around noon today. Greatest chance for shovelable snow is up in northeast Nebraska with this snow band likely to weaken as it drops southward toward the Platte River. Biggest concern for areas south of the Platte River is the potential for spotty freezing drizzle as indicated in the convective-allowing high-resolution models. If this materializes, we could see a few slick spots develop on untreated roads and surfaces. Right now there's about a 10-25% chance.

This system is associated with a deepening upper-level wave with an Arctic High sliding southward behind it into the Northern and Central Plains. Arctic air will mean very cold temperatures are expected through Sunday with highs today only expected to be in the teens and overnight lows tonight drop to around zero with wind chills in northeast Nebraska as low as -15.

Temperatures will start to slightly rebound on Sunday as skies clear and the ridge that has been hanging over the Intermountain West for the past week finally starts to shift eastward. This will shunt the arctic air off to the east bringing significantly warmer air back to the region this week. Though Sunday will still be cool with highs in the mid teens to mid 20s, highs on Monday will warm up into the 40s to near 50. Then by Tuesday some areas closer to central Nebraska will warm into the mid 50s, possibly near 60 Tuesday, but likely near 60 on Wednesday.

With the ridge expanding eastward, we see the breakdown of the standing wave over the CONUS that has been in place for the past week. This brings a shift toward more zonal flow through the week. Our next system of note will arrive Wednesday into Thursday. A warm front pushes through Wednesday afternoon enhancing the warm-air advection ahead of the cold front which arrives during the evening. Dry air will keep any precipitation from falling with this system, but we will see cooler temperatures return behind the cold front Thursday going into the weekend. Now the northwesterly flow behind this system doesn't have that direct tap to the Arctic like the previous systems, so while those brought frigid air, highs Thursday going into the weekend will only fall back into the mid 40s to low 50s. Very seasonable temperatures for this time of year. Still, after the system today, we don't see any real chances for any precipitation through the next seven days at least.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 528 AM CST Sat Dec 13 2025

The band of snow has moved into KOFK and will continue south over the next several hours, bringing snow to KOMA starting between 13-15Z. Snow should dissipate before getting to KLNK, though a few flurries will be possible. Snow will reduce visibility to 1-3 SM with a mix of MVFR and IFR cigs at times depending on the intensity of the snowfall. Expect MVFR cigs to expand south and eastward to all the terminals over the next couple of hours. MVFR cigs will hold through the afternoon with clearing skies toward the evening. Winds will remain out of the north through the TAF period.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for NEZ011-012- 015. IA...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for IAZ043.