Roads closed and some schools getting out early due to High Wind Warning
A high wind warning remains in full force in western Nebraska.
April 6, 2022Updated: November 21, 2022
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaA high wind warning remains in full force in western Nebraska.
According to the National Weather Service, winds have been blowing around 40 to 50 miles per hour with gusts up to 70 mph.
Sidney local Christy Kettle said she does not remember the winds ever getting this bad when she was growing up.
“The wind is just picking up higher and higher every day and I’m sick and tired of it,” Kettle said.
Pieces of metal paneling on an apartment building roof have fallen off in Sidney. Almost a third of the paneling is completely torn off.
Grass fires are at a high risk with the chance of it spreading extremely quickly.
According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Interstate 76 is closed eastbound due to high wind restriction between US 6 and the Nebraska border.
Highway 61 between Otis and Sterling is now closed due to high winds and brown-out conditions.
The high wind makes travel dangerous and is discomforting to many locals, with dust getting blown up and making visibility difficult on the roads. Tumbleweeds are also covering the roads and hitting cars.
Peetz school district let students out early are 2 p.m. due to high winds and poor visibility.
"It’s ridiculous," Kettle said. "I don’t think you want me to really say how I really think about it, but I’m over it."
The High Wind Warning expires at 8 p.m. for Deuel County and the rest of the eastern Panhandle. The Warning expires at 6 p.m. for the western panhandle. After 6 p.m. the warning turns into a watch until 9 a.m. Thursday morning.