SIDNEY, Neb. — Residents across the Sidney area spent Sunday and Monday digging out after a winter storm dumped several inches of snow on the region Saturday night, packing roads with snow and forcing road officials to issue a "travel not advised" alert before conditions improved by Monday night.

The storm, which swept through western Nebraska and parts of northeastern Colorado, left behind varying snow totals. Sidney reported 7 inches of accumulation, while Potter received 6 inches. Nearby Lodgepole saw 4.3 inches and Chappell recorded 4 inches. Minatare and Oshkosh each reported 5 inches of snow, and Bridgeport and Bushnell measured 3.5 inches. Iliff led the area with 8 inches of snow, followed by Sterling with 4.6 inches.

State and local authorities worked through the weekend to clear snow-covered roads, but travel remained hazardous for much of Saturday and Sunday due to slick conditions and reduced visibility. Interstate 80 and major highways saw delays and drivers were urged to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

The city of Sidney issued a snow emergency until midnight Monday. During the snow emergency, parking was prohibited on designated emergency snow routes, marked by red and blue signs posted along streets. Vehicles left parked on these routes would be ticketed or towed at the owner's expense.

Officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel as icy road conditions and heavy fog created dangerous driving conditions across the region Saturday evening. The Kimball Police Department issued a notice, emphasizing the risks of significantly reduced visibility and slick roadways.

By Monday night, travel conditions across Nebraska had returned to normal.

The storm marked the first significant snowfall of 2025 for the region.