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The 1997 Western Plains winter storms comprised a system of extreme snowfall and wind from October 24–26, 1997. The storms resulted in 13 deaths (five in Colorado, two each in Nebraska and Illinois, and one each in Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas), and caused power outages and school closings lasting up to a week in affected areas. The event was billed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as being a "two-hundred year storm". The wind caused much damage, downing trees and power poles.
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Effects in Nebraska
A large portion of the state received blackouts, including the southeastern portion of the state, which includes major cities Lincoln and Omaha.
Lincoln effects
Though the storm affected several states, the city of Lincoln received some of the most notorious damage. Power outages affected the city for several days, and school was canceled for a week. The city was said to have lost at least 100,000 trees. Records set for Lincoln as a result of the storm include: