Washington County residents were digging out Tuesday after a historic snowstorm swept through eastern Nebraska on Monday, dropping the most snow in Blair since 2009.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported 9 inches of snow fell in Blair, 9.9 in Fort Calhoun and 9.5 in Arlington.
In 2009, Blair saw more than a foot of snow from a storm that began on Christmas Eve and continued into Christmas Day. In 2016, a storm dropped 8 inches of snow.
However, snowfall totals from this week's storm may have been higher in Blair.
“This snowstorm dumped quite a bit of snow on Blair,” Director of Public Works Al Schoemaker said. “We are measuring up to 12 inches in places and 10 inches consistently around the city.”
In Omaha, the NWS reported 12.5 inches of snow at Eppley Airfield.
“It definitely was a historic kind of event for us,” NWS meteorologist Katie Gross said. “This is the largest two-day snow in Omaha since 2005. The greatest one-day total snow at Eppley since 1975.”
Lincoln had the second greatest two-day snow total with 14.8 inches.
Blair and Washington County crews were out early during the storm Monday to keep streets passable.
Schoemaker said eight city workers workers started Monday morning before four more joined as the storm intensified around noon. Four worked until 4 p.m. before coming back at midnight to work on the streets throughout the night. The other eight left between 10 p.m. and midnight. All crews returned at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Snow piled into the center of streets in downtown Blair was cleared Wednesday morning.
Schoemaker did ask for the public's help in keeping streets clear.
“We ask people to not put the snow in the streets from their driveways and sidewalks as this only clogs the streets and makes travel challenging for people who use the street,” Schoemaker said.
During the Blair City Council meeting Tuesday, Schoemaker called the storm a “budget buster” as snow removal would likely cost the city $20,000 to $30,000.
Washington County Highway Superintendent Bill Hansel said his crews were out until 7 p.m. before returning at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday to clear county roads that had drifted shut during the storm.
“It's taken a while. It's not a heavy snow which is good, but there is a lot out there,” he said. “It's taken us a while, but it's that time of the year.”
BOB
