Snow hits Panhandle, ice to blanket northeast Nebraska, wintry mix for the rest of the state

NORFOLK, Neb. -- The weather forecast is getting dicier, and icier, as 2023 gets off to a tumultuous start in parts of Nebraska.

A total of 56 Nebraska counties are under a winter storm warning, and an additional 18 are under a winter storm watch. Now, the National Weather Service is putting another 11 counties under an ice storm warning.

Platte, Washington, Butler, Thurston, Wayne, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Colfax and Dodge Counties are under the ice storm warning from noon CST Monday until 6 p.m. CST Tuesday.

NWS officials say that the counties under an ice storm warning could see 1-3 inches of snow and up to an inch of ice accumulation. Damage to trees and power lines is considered likely, and travel is not advised for those in the affected areas.

The Panhandle, which has been under a winter storm warning since Sunday, has already seen overnight snow that is impacting roadways. The weather has not yet forced any road closures, though traffic restrictions are being enforced, particularly length restrictions for truckers.

Much of the Panhandle is in the winter storm warning until 11:00 p.m. MST Monday, though the northern portion of the Panhandle, in places like Gordon and Chadron, is under the warning until midday Tuesday with the possibility of up to 16 inches of snow possible. It is the third time in in as many weeks that the northern Panhandle has braced for heavy snow and winter weather.

Southwest, central, north central and northeast Nebraska will be under the warning until potentially Tuesday evening, with six inches of snow being the top end for most areas, though Knox, Cedar, Antelope, Pierce, Boone, Boyd, Rock, Holt, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler and Keya Paha Counties could see up to 16 inches of snow.

Meanwhile, the North Platte River near Lewellen is currently under a flood advisory due to an ice jam.

Stay tuned to News Channel Nebraska for all the latest weather updates.

STORM CLOSINGS & CANCELLATIONS