Sidney receives first fall snow of the year
The season's first snowflakes left a light blanket of snow on gardens, grass, and playground equipment across Sidney on Thursday afternoon.
By News Channel Nebraska
SIDNEY - The season's first snowflakes left a light blanket of snow on gardens, grass, and playground equipment across Sidney on Thursday afternoon.
The much-needed moisture made roads, sidewalks, and parking lots wet, but snow wasn't sticking to pavement as of 7 p.m. Low temperatures were expected to drop to around 20 degrees, which prompted Nebraska State Patrol to warn overnight travelers and Friday morning commuters to be prepared for winter driving conditions.
An upper level disturbance moved in from Wyoming and produced snow and sharply colder temperatures. Snow chances were highest across the western Sandhills and Pine Ridge.
The National Weather Service says Sidney was forecast for another one to two inches of snow overnight Thursday. Ogallala, Oshkosh, Gordon, and Mullen were also expected to get up to two inches. Those four cities were included in a winter weather advisory until 6 a.m. MDT Friday.
Ana Maria-Manning drove from Potter to Sidney on Highway 30 in her green Volkswagen bug Thursday afternoon. She says the light snow served as a good reminder to get ready for the winter.
"I suppose I just have to be happy about it," Maria-Manning said. "I can't wish it away. We've had a drought this summer, so it's been good."
According to the NWS, Alliance was predicted to get two to three inches of snow by 7 a.m. Friday morning. Less than an inch was expected across the rest of north-central Nebraska.
Further west, Kimball, Scottsbluff, and Torrington were forecast to receive up to three inches of snow.
As of 7 p.m. Thursday, road across the southern Nebraska Panhandle were wet, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Friday will be gradually sunny with a high of 44.