SIDNEY - The latest winter storm to strike the Nebraska Panhandle, northeast Colorado, and southeast Wyoming closed roads and forced schools to change class schedules Wednesday.

Interstate 80 and Highway 30 were closed from Grand Island, Neb. to Cheyenne, Wyo. Wednesday afternoon. In Colorado, I-76 was closed in both directions from Sterling to Nebraska. Other roads closed in northeast Colorado, included:

  • I-70 both directions from Denver to Kansas
  • US-36 both directions from Last Chance (CO 71) to Kansas
  • US 385 both directions from Julesburg to Nebraska
  • US 138 both directions from Sterling to Nebraska 
  • US 24 both directions from Colorado Springs to I-70
  • US 6 both directions from Sterling to Nebraska
  • CO 113 both directions from CO 138 to Nebraska
  • CO 59 both directions from I-76 to Yuma
  • CO 55 both direction from CO 138 to mile post 5.5
  • CO 52 both directions from New Raymer to Fort Morgan
  • CO 71 both directions from Last Chance to Brush
  • CO 23 both directions from US-385 to Nebraska
  • CO 14 both directions from Ault to Sterling 
  • CO 11 both directions from CO 138 to Nebraska
  • CO 86 both directions from Elizabeth to I-70

U.S. Highway 138, between Colorado state line and U.S. 30 in Nebraska; Highway 19 south of Sidney; Highway 88 from Bridgeport to the Wyoming state line; Highway 27 from Highway 30 to Oshkosh; Highway 26 from Lewellen to Ogallala, and Highway 92 along Lake McConaughy are also closed. 

Roads that remained open were completely covered in snow. 

The majority of schools and colleges, and several businesses and organizations, around the Sidney area decided to close Wednesday, because of the storm. 

WeatherEye Meteorologist Mike Karow says eight inches of snow was reported in Lodgepole at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

"We're still in for another two to four inches of accumulation throughout the course of your day today," Karow said. "A foot of snow is not out of the realm of possibilities even close to our listening area. I think the main bullseye for the heaviest snowfall totals with this event will fall from about North Platte over to near Broken Bow, where a foot-and-a-half to maybe two feet of snow is not out of the question."

According to Karow, winds won't get to blizzard strength, but they'll be fairly breezy out of the north and northeast at 15-20 mph, with the possibility of higher wind gusts. Snow is forecast to taper-off east to west around 8 p.m. Wednesday night.

"Sustained winds, or frequent gusts, of 35 mph or greater to reach blizzard criteria," Karow said. "Not quite the white out conditions, but definitely heavy snow that will be piling up will make it nearly impossible to travel on some roadways, especially before the plows get out."

Temperatures will cool to below average through the weekend at around 30 degrees with another chance of light snow Sunday and Monday.

A winter storm warning remained in effect until 5 p.m. Wednesday for the Nebraska Panhandle, northeast Colorado, and Laramie County in southeast Wyoming. The cities of Sidney, Kimball, Gering, Scottsbluff, and Alliance are in snow emergencies until further notice.