Don't take a holiday from blizzard sense

If you're searching for that dreaded lump of coal, don't look under the tree or in your stocking this morning. Look outside your door.

Weather conditions overnight were expected to deteriorate as wind gusts to 40 to 50 mph were expected to sweep into the Omaha area.

By the time kids open presents, snow totals outside could be well on the way to the foot or so forecast for areas along the Missouri River.

Eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa are under blizzard warnings and are expected to remain so through 6 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

A blizzard warning means blowing snow could cause whiteout conditions, making Christmas travel extremely dangerous. If you do travel, the weather service advises you prepare in case you are stranded.

Snowfall throughout the day should be steady in eastern Nebraska, and the high winds Midlanders wake up to this morning are likely to continue through the day, said Cathy Zapotocny, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Valley.

Already Thursday, travel was becoming treacherous.

The Saunders County Sheriff's Office issued a late-afternoon alert discouraging travel on an open stretch of Highway 92 west of Wahoo because visibility was so bad from the blowing snow.

The Nebraska Department of Roads advised caution to extreme caution on roads across the state.

Western Iowa roads were snow- and ice-covered, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The Omaha Public Power District called in extra crews Thursday, not only because of the scattered power outages across its territory but also because of concerns that more outages could become a problem, according to spokesman Jeff Hanson. Other utilities also geared up.

City and state snowplow crews across the region were trying to stay ahead of the storm, but in some cases, their efforts appeared to be no match for blizzard conditions.

Scott McIntyre, Omaha's street maintenance manager, said crews probably wouldn't get into neighborhoods until this weekend.

Crews will work around the clock until at least Wednesday, he said.

City and federal officials have said Saturday's trash service and postal delivery depend on the weather.

Officials ask that people clear access to their mailboxes and trash and recycling containers. Omaha also asked people to refrain from putting out recyclables Saturday.

“We are planning to make every delivery,” said Roger Humphries, spokesman for the postal service.

Snowfall totals were expected to vary across the region.

The storm's center was expected to travel northward from Missouri into Iowa overnight. As a result, less snowfall is expected farther west in Nebraska.

Contact the writer:

444-1102, nancy.gaarder@owh.com

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