Strong winds Tuesday, accumulating snow for Wednesday
Strong gusty winds will help usher in the next winter storm system in the Nebraska panhandle and southeast Wyoming this week.
By News Channel NebraskaSIDNEY - Strong gusty winds will help usher in the next winter storm system in the Nebraska panhandle and southeast Wyoming this week.
WeatherEye Meteorologist Mike Carow says winds will be out of the west at 30-45 mph, with gusts of 60 mph possible, especially Tuesday afternoon.
"You want to watch out with those high profile vehicles, especially on those north and south running roads, later on today," Carow said. "Those winds will be howling later on, that's why we have that high wind warning."
The high warning is in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday for the majority of the Nebraska panhandle, northeast Colorado and southeast Wyoming.
Widespread light to moderate snow is expected on Wednesday, with heavy snow in the forecast across Platte and Goshen counties in Wyoming and Scotts Bluff and Banner counties in western Nebraska. These counties, along with the rest of the southern Nebraska panhandle and southeast Wyoming are in a winter storm watch from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday.
Carow says snow will start at approximately 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning and last into the evening, affecting the morning and evening commutes.
"As far as those snowfall totals across the region, I think they'll be on the lesser side across the far southern portions of the Nebraska panhandle and into extreme southeastern portions of Wyoming," Carow said. "Not expecting much more than about three to six inches of snow accumulation for Kimball, Cheyenne and Laramie Counties, but if your travels take you just a little bit further off to the north towards to the Scottsbluff, Bridgeport and Broadwater areas, it'll be closer to the 8-12 inches range."
Carow has a medium confidence level in the snow total forecast. He says there could still be a little movement on where the system ends up tracking through the region.
Bitterly cold temperatures are also likely Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
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