LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – An ad for a fast food restaurant back in the mid 1980’s asked the question “Where’s the Beef?”  These days, people in the Midwest are asking, “Where’s the snow?”  Cities all across the region are setting records for the lack of the white stuff.  Lincoln, NE, is seeing its 297th day in a row without measurable snow. The former record was 295 snow-free days in 2004.

The National Weather Service says the 285 snowless days as of Wednesday in Omaha breaks the record 284 days that ended Dec. 30, 2006.  The Des Moines, Iowa, record of 277 days set in 1889 is being matched today (Thursday).   Elsewhere in the Midwest, Chicago and Milwaukee have yet to have their first measurable snow of the season.

But good news may be ahead for winter wonderland fans: The service says snow is in the forecasts for Saturday night or Sunday in Nebraska and Iowa, the next day in Chicago.