CHAPPELL - Confidence increased Sunday morning for potential blizzard conditions with significant snow accumulations, gusty winds and whiteout conditions to hit western and central Nebraska Sunday night through Monday night.

WeatherEye Meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber says the early spring snow storm is part of an intense cyclone impacting a large portion of the Upper Midwest, Continental Divide and Central Plains. She says northern states could receive as much as a foot of snow.

"Uncertainty still remains with the exact timing and also the track of this weather system," Thalhuber said. "We're also going to see a transition period from rain to snow Sunday night. We do have some winter weather impacts with this system. Besides the heavier snowfall amounts, we're also going to be having very high winds."

Over the next 36 hours (as of 9 a.m. Sunday), Dalton was forecast to receive nearly two inches of snow. Julesburg could get six-and-a-half inches, Ogallala up to seven-and-a-half inches and six inches forecast for North Platte.  

The National Weather Service office in North Platte says the forecast will be dynamic and changing. Snowfall amounts will be adjusted through the event to "reflect the latest trends in guidance, radar and satellite imagery."

According to Thalhuber, the storm won't be a long duration event, and it's not a system she would worry about stocking up for, but if you have to travel east, the higher the snow amounts will be. She says Ogallala, North Platte and Kearney could get 5-10 inches of snow on top of wind gusts up to 45-55 mph. 

"Now, as we head further into central Nebraska that's where we do see a blizzard warning with those higher snowfall amounts," Thalhuber said. "As you head further to the west, in the Panhandle, a winter storm warning is out due to the lesser snow amounts, but still, those very strong winds."

The impacts of even just two or three inches of snow will be significant as it's driven by winds gusting to 55 mph, the weather service says. With the strong winds and lows in the teens, wind chills are expected to be between -5 to 5 early Monday morning. 

Snowfall amounts are forecast to be higher in north-central Nebraska. Ainsworth is forecast to get over 11.5 inches, 9.8 inches in Wood Lake and 9.4 inches in Naper. 

Before any impacts from winter weather, thunderstorms will be possible across portions of central and western Nebraska late Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening. Some storms from Imperial through North Platte to Callaway and southward will have the potential to produce large hail and isolated wind damage.

"The transition from rain to snow is going to vary at times," Thalhuber said. "We do have that transition mainly towards the Sunday evening hours. With this very complex system, it's important to stay up-to-date with the weather as things could change hour-by-hour."

A roller coaster of temperatures are forecast this week after the cold front. Highs in the upper-20s for Monday warm to upper-30s by Tuesday and 50s - even 60s - returning quickly across the Chappell region.