Storms roll out rain in east, snow in the west

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Blizzard conditions closed Interstate 80 and other highways in western Nebraska on Sunday, while damaging thunderstorms rolled through Lincoln and other parts of eastern Nebraska.

Conditions were so nasty statewide that a Weather Channel meteorologist awarded Nebraska his "weather Oscar."

Extreme winds were the most damaging aspect of the storm in the east.

Most rainfall totals at 6 p.m. were well under an inch.

Beatrice got 0.6 of an inch; Lincoln got only 0.39.

Omaha had received about three-tenths of an inch as of 7 p.m.

Wind gusts peaked at 70 mph in Weeping Water and Plattsmouth.

In Lincoln, winds gusted as high as 47 miles per hour Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Municipal Airport. A spokesman for the National Weather Service in Valley said gusts must have been stronger around 4715 Normal Blvd. to blow a roof off Rent 'N Drive, causing an estimated $10,000 damage.

Deputy Chief Bruce Sellon of the Lincoln Fire Department said because the building had two roofs, an older steel roof and a newer, lightweight wooden one, there was little interior damage.

"The wind got under there and peeled the wooden roof right off," he said.

Debris from the roof also caused a variety of damage to four vehicles, a camper and a boat nearby.

Elsewhere, the weather service said, trees were uprooted or damaged in several nearby counties. Trees 15 to 20 years old were uprooted in Otoe County, several trees were blown down in Union, a gazebo was damaged in a Nebraska City park and the tops of trees were reported snapped off a mile west of Bellevue in Sarpy County.

Hail up to an inch in diameter was reported in Jefferson, Saline and Douglas counties.

The Omaha Public Power District reported more than 10,000 customers were left without power after thunderstorms brought strong winds, rain and hail.

Blizzard warnings were in effect until early today for the Panhandle and parts of southwest Nebraska, with up to eight inches of snow expected.

Winds of up to 45 mph were drifting the wet snow and reducing visibility to near zero in some locations.

Highway officials closed Interstate 80 from the Interstate 76 junction near Big Springs to the Wyoming line and Interstate 76 in Colorado from the I-80 junction to Sterling.

U.S. 30 also was shut down from Big Springs to the Wyoming line, Nebraska 71 from Scottsbluff to the Colorado line and Nebraska 19 from Sidney to the Colorado line.

The heavy snow was expected to stay far west of Lincoln, but a mix of rain and snow could fall here later today, forecasters said.