The printing schedule for this week’s edition of your newspaper was advanced with the hope it would be delivered to the entering post offices prior to the arrival of the predicted winter storm.

When the paper is received may be an indication of the severity of the storm. While the models used by the National Weather Service when preparing forecasts have tended to be in agreement this time, the expected storm track keeps changing.

When discussing this storm’s potential, the weather service staff based in the Hastings office divided their area of responsibility into three zones. Superior and Mankato, for example, were in Zone 2, the area in which at 4:55 a.m. when the Tuesday morning report was issued was the area in which the forecasters had the lowest confidence. The report indicated there was a strong gradient of heavy to light snow accumulation within the zone. Mixed precipitation was possible which could lead to ice concerns.

The predicted snowfall amounts ranged from as much as six inches in the northern fringe of Nuckolls County to less than an inch in southern Jewell County. The majority of the snow was predicted to fall between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday. All of Nuckolls County and the northern portion of Jewell County was in the area of most uncertainty. The forecasters said early Tuesday, that area may end up with more of a wintry mix of precipitation amount or the storm track might shift south and deliver more storm.

Because of the advanced deadlines some stories we planned for this week were not finished in time. Hopefully, our readers will find stories of interest in this early issue.

This week’s delivery uncertainty illustrates why the newspaper staff encourages all subscribers take advantage of the offer to have a combination print and digital subscription. The digital subscription can be combined with a print subscription at no additional cost and offers an opportunity most weeks to read online replicas of the paper before the print editions are delivered.

If you have internet service, please provide us your email address and we will enable an online subscription and send instructions on how to finalize the subscription.

Northern Republic County was in the area where ice accumulation of up to a quarter of an inch was most likely to occur.

The weather service issues a winter storm watch when heavy snow, sleet or freezing rain is possible. A winter storm warning is issued when heavy snow, sleet or freezing rain is expected.

Tuesday morning Nuckolls, Webster, and Smith counties were in a winter storm watch. Jewell, Mitchell, Cloud, Republic and Thayer counties were in the winter weather advisory area.