Much of southeast Nebraska upgraded to Winter Storm Warning ahead of late season storm

As a late-season winter storm barrels its way toward southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas, the National Weather Service has upgraded much of the area from a Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning. 

The entire Ol' Red 99.5 listening area is included in the warning. It takes effect at noon Wednesday and will stay in effect until noon Thursday for areas including Fillmore and Thayer counties and west.

Jefferson, Saline, Gage and counties to the south and east will be under the warning from 3 p.m. this afternoon to 6 p.m. Thursday. 

Snow accumulations south of Interstate 80 are expected to range from 5 to 9 inches with a sharp cutoff in snow totals for areas north of I-80. Winds are forecast to hit between 35 and 40 mile-per-hour gusts. 

Snow if forecast to begin in the mid afternoon in the Beatrice area as the storm makes its way to the northeast. The heaviest snow fall is expected to occur between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. High winds throughout and after snowfall will cause low visibility and difficult travel. Winds should subside by Thursday evening.

The impending storm is already impacting travel. The Fairbury wrestling team moved its send off to the state wrestling championships form 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon to 1 o'clock. 

If you must travel, make sure you have an emergency kit in the car.