Southern Pacific E-8, Union Pacific #844 and Kansas City Southern's Salute to Veterans 'round the curve near  Kansas City's Liberty Memorial I hope that this Christmas is your best ever -- filled with love, friends and family, and faith. And, whether it was electric trains or something else, I hope Santa brought you your heart's greatest desire. 

This is an Extremely Dangerous Winter Storm. Please Make Sure Friends and Family are Aware. As of 8:05pm, the forecasts look good. This is my last update for the night.  Latest NWS Storm Warnings as of 8:00pm Color Code: Orange is a blizzard warning. It includes much of I-80 and I-76 in Nebraska.  Pink is a winter storm warning for heavy snow. Dark green is a winter storm watch. Purple is a winter weather advisory. Note this has been extended south into central Kansas, thus it includes I-70 beginning at Salina and continuing west -- where it turns into a winter storm watch -- to Burlington, CO. Please do not  spend your Christmas or the day after in your car trapped by a giant snow drift or having slid off into a ditch from an icy highway.  NWS Experimental Winter Weather Impacts Index Freezing Rain for Tonight and Christmas Morning Blizzard Conditions Christmas Day and Wednesday Snowfalls As much as 20-22 inches may fall near the South Dakota-Nebraska border. The sn...

--- this forecast has been updated, please scroll up one to receive the latest --- Orange = blizzard warnings! It includes I-80 across most of Nebraska. Dark green is a winter storm watch which includes Omaha and Lincoln.  Pink = winter storm warnings, which includes I-70 in eastern Colorado.   Purple = winter weather advisory.

C'mon, make sure you go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. And, church on New Year's weekend is a great way to begin 2024! Here is more humor from the Bee . 

Hail to 1" and thunderstorm-generated winds to 65 mph are forecast to occur.  Below is the latest radar for the region. Considerable lightning is also occurring with these storms.  This affects both I-20 and I-10. Radar at 7:32pm. Here is hail that fell in Odessa this evening. 

Traveling With Be Dangterous in the  Blizzard Area  (Outlined at Bottom) The NWS has updated its winter storm impacts chart to put the effects of the winter storm in parts of South Dakota and Nebraska into the red -- major impacts -- category. It says there will be "major disruption to daily life" and to "avoid travel if possible." I would say, "don't travel at all unless it is a genuine emergency." The red area may have more than 15" inches of snow with considerable drifting.  --- original post --- Via Pivotal Weather Above is a forecast of snowfall between 1am Christmas Eve and 11pm Christmas Day. What makes this worse is that high winds will cause blizzard or near blizzard conditions over Nebraska, northern Kansas and southern South Dakota.  Peak winds until 10am Wednesday The yellow/orange represents peak wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph which will cause blowing and drifting snow.  So, I am calling for near blizzard or blizzard conditions as outline...

Hail fell and coated the ground in the Midland-Odessa area.  Large hail was reported in several other areas.  The threat of hail is over.  --- original post below --- Normally, we don't routinely forecast hail because it is not life-threatening. However, given the numerous people traveling today and because hail can damage cars, I'm posting the area where 1" or larger hail is forecast.  The yellow area has a significant risk of hail 1" or larger. There is a very slight chance in the dark green area. The hail should start after 2pm and the storms will move from west to east.