Ice jams have already formed on the Platte River near Fremont. One continues upstream for 2 to 3 miles, according to the Papio-Missouri River NRD.
An ice jam forms on the Platte River west of the Highway 77 bridge near Fremont on Monday. Observers in eastern Nebraska will be looking out for signs of flooding as the weather warms up. “We’re just waiting to see how the snow will melt over the next couple of days,” said hydrologist David Pearson of the National Weather Service office in Valley. “We’ll be watching closely.”
An ice jam on the Platte River near Fremont. Average high temperatures in the mid-40s are expected the first week of March.
In addition to the Platte River near Fremont, officials are watching the Loup River near Columbus and the Elkhorn River for possible flooding.
Observers in eastern Nebraska will be keeping a close eye on area rivers for signs of flooding as a welcome warming trend begins to melt ice and snow.
“We’re just waiting to see how the snow will melt over the next couple of days,” said hydrologist David Pearson of the National Weather Service office in Valley. “We’ll be watching closely.”
Highs on both Monday and Tuesday were expected to be in the mid-40s before dropping back into the upper 30s on Thursday, according to Hallie Bova, a Valley-based weather service meteorologist. The first week of March, Bova said, should see a return to average highs in the mid-40s, warm enough to accelerate the melting of snow and ice.
“How warm it gets kind of depends on how much snow melts,” Bova said. “It does look like we’ll have some more above-normal (temperature) days in early March.”
Pearson said observers will focus on the Platte River near Fremont, where ice jams already have occurred. An ongoing ice jam at Fremont is at the U.S. Highway 77 bridge and continues upstream for 2 to 3 miles, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District reported.
Other locations to watch include the Loup River near Columbus and the Elkhorn River, Pearson said. Current flood advisory details are available at www.weather.gov/omaha.
The ice on the Platte River near Valley measured 15 inches thick on Friday, said Jennifer Stauss Story, a spokeswoman for the Papio-Missouri River NRD. That could signify an increased potential for ice jams, she said.
“We’re a little concerned about the next couple of days,” Pearson said. “If it gets warm enough, that could mean a high (amount) of melt.”
The weather service and other agencies will continue to monitor the river ice conditions and forecasts. Pearson said the hope is always for a slow melt with no — or very little — rain.
“There are no typical years (for ice melting),” Pearson said. “I’ve seen two feet of ice and nothing happened. We had a slow melt. Some years, there’s been very little ice and then flooding.”
Photos: Record-breaking cold temperatures hit Nebraska
The Livestock Exchange Building is surrounded by rising steam from industrial operations in South Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Omaha set a record low on Tuesday, dipping to 23 degrees below zero.
Steam rises out of the Missouri River around the Interstate 480 bridge as viewed from Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park in Council Bluffs early Tuesday, Feb. 16. Lows in the Omaha metro area were around 23 degrees below zero. The steam caused icy roads and the temporary closure of the bridge.
Frost collects on a sheet of ice in a parking lot in South Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Omaha set a record low on Tuesday, dipping to 23 degrees below zero.
Ice particles from the steam out of the Missouri River float around a frozen leaf at Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park in Council Bluffs as morning lows were around 20 degrees below zero on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Dr. Michael Howard listens to the heart of Bella, a Boston terrier puppy at Best Care Pet Hospital In Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Bella was anesthetized before power was cut to the south Omaha neighborhood where they are located because of extreme temperatures in the region. Dr. Howard was prepping to spay Bella by window light before the power did come back on. They had performed one surgery with no power already that morning.
Steam rises from the MidAmerican Energy Company in Council Bluffs, as seen from South Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Omaha set a record low Tuesday, dipping to 23 degrees below zero.
Cars head west on L Street from 30th Street as a rolling blackout related to extreme temperatures left the traffic lights not working on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021.
A sign warns of the power outage at Best Care Pet Hospital at 3030 L St. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Extreme temperatures forced rolling blackouts in the area.
Neymar walks around in a sweater after a power outage at Best Care Pet Hospital at 3030 L St. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Extreme temperatures forced rolling blackouts in the area.
Sunlight filters through the steam as cars head east on Leavenworth Street toward 16th Street as the low in the area was close to 20 degrees below zero on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021.
A sun dog is seen near Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park in Council Bluffs as the low temperature was 23 degrees below zero on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021.
Steam rises out of the Missouri River around the Interstate 480 bridge as viewed from Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park in Council Bluffs early Feb. 16. Lows in the Omaha metro area were around 20 degrees below zero that day. The steam caused icy roads and the temporary closure of the bridge.
A car slid off the road near a bridge at 36th and L Streets as ice from a low temperature of 23 degrees below zero caused many accidents in the area on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Two vehicles are wrecked near a bridge at 36th and L Streets as ice from a low temperature of 23 degrees below zero caused many accidents in the area on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021.
Steam rises out of the Missouri River around the Interstate 480 bridge as viewed from Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park in Council Bluffs early Tuesday, Feb. 16. Lows in the Omaha metro area were around 23 degrees below zero. The steam caused icy roads and the temporary closure of the bridge.
Steam rises out of the Missouri River around the Interstate 480 bridge as viewed from Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park in Council Bluffs early Tuesday, Feb. 16. Lows in the Omaha metro area were around 23 degrees below zero. The steam caused icy roads and the temporary closure of the bridge.
A drink order is passed through the drive-thru window at the Runza at 2952 Farnam St. on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The Nebraska-based restaurant chain has offered the “Temperature Tuesday” promotion since 2010.
kevin.cole@owh.com, 402-444-1272
Kevin Cole
Kevin Cole covers Omaha crime and public safety news. Follow him on Twitter @KevinColeOmaha. Phone: 402-444-1272.
