| The first snowstorm
of 2000 struck the midlands on February 17-18. Until this storm,
the total amount of snowfall in Lincoln since Fall 1999 was only 4.1 inches
and we were on track to set a record for the least snowfall in a winter
in Lincoln, NE. The 1967-68 winter season only had 7.2 inches of
snowfall and remains as the record lowest amount of snowfall in a snowfall
season.
The storm of February 17-18 originated as a powerful low pressure area in the pacific ocean which came onshore in California on Wednesday, February 16 bringing some heavy rains to the coastal areas and some localized mudslides. As it moved over the Rocky Mountain, it became somewhat disorganized but strengthened again as it emerged from the mountains in southeastern Colorado. A small area of precipitation moved across the region in the form of sleet mid-morning on February 17 but resulted in only a trace of precipitation. Southeasterly winds ahead of the main storm system continued to feed moisture into the region all day long. The National Weather Service issued FORECAST DISCUSSIONS throughout the day before the onset of the storm and once the storm had begun to move into the area. A review of these discussions is an excellent way to see how the NWS was deciding to issue their heavy snow warning for our region. The RADAR Images illustrate the narrow band of snowfall that moved across the state and into Iowa during the evening of February 17 and into the morning of February 18. Note that the radar images file is 0.8 MB and will take awhile to load if using a phone line modem. The middle radar image, which is static (the others are radar loops) shows that there was a cessation of snowfall in the Lincoln area during the middle of the night. Further note the thunderstorm development just south of Nebraska in eastern Kansas. A second band of snowfall worked its way into eastern Nebraska just before dawn and pushed the snowfall totals up to 6-8 inches across eastern Nebraska. During the evening of
February 17, there were 30 states with watches
and warnings resulting from this storm.
Typical of these strong late winter storms, there was an outbreak of severe
weather across the southern U.S. The two Surface
Charts from the period of time at the height of the storm
show the area of snowfall and it can also be noted that thunderstorms were
being reported in Kansas and Missouri.
Viewing them via a modem may take a few minutes February 20, 2000 was clear across Nebraska, as well as in Iowa and Illinois, giving an opportunity to see the area that remained snow covered from the storm two days earlier 10:45 AM Satellite Image. The snow band was shrinking rapidly under warm southwesterly winds.
Snow Depth Map from the NWS, February 19, 2000 The Lincoln Snowfall Page contains the complete data archive for ALL Lincoln snowfall and includes rankings of annual and snowfall season amounts, tables of monthly snowfall and a graph showing variation in snowfall from 1899 to 1999. "Nasty Winter Mix". ABC News Report "Active Weather Calms". The Weather Channel Report "Storms May Be Just Starting". Omaha World Herald Report "Storm Brings Snow, Freezing Rain to Midwest, East". Associated Press Report "Snow Brings Moisture to Dry Ranch Lands". Omaha World Herald Report "Storm Covers Iowa in Wintry Blast". Omaha World Herald Report "Capital City Scoops Out". Lincoln Journal Star Report
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