Winter hazards intensify Wednesday

OMAHA - Arctic air is covering Nebraska today and is expected to bring below-zero temperatures southward into Oklahoma and Texas by Thursday.

Ice is forecast for southeast Nebraska beginning Wednesday and snow is expected for River Country. Wind gusts will increase around 1 p.m. Wednesday and increase overnight to 25 to 30 mph. One to three inches of snow are forecast after sunset Wednesday at 4:59 p.m.

Tarkio police have posted emergency snow routes where parking is prohibited beginning today and going to Saturday. Snow plows are expected to operate prior to Christmas Eve.

Graph: The National Weather Service shows total snow accumulations above three inches in southeast Nebraska and portions of Missouri, Kansas and Iowa by Thursday.