An intense arctic cold front tracked rapidly from north to south across western Nebraska during the morning and afternoon hours on 12/21. Numerous records were set for the most rapid and extreme temperature drops in history. Morning low temperatures fell to -20 to -40 degrees F across the western Nebraska Panhandle on 12/22, with many sites remaining below zero through the day. Wind chills plummeted to between -45 and -65 degrees F for many. The cold frontal passage on 12/21 was also accompanied by scattered snow showers and locally intense snow squalls, resulting in a period of extremely low visibilities and dangerous travel conditions due to a flash freeze.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTH SIOUX, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 08:24:00 to 23-DEC-22 08:24:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Overnight low temperatures ranged from -22 F to -26 F across northern Sioux County from 12/21 into 12/22, with daytime highs generally remaining under -10 F during the afternoon on 12/22. Sustained winds 15-30 MPH resulted in a prolonged period of extreme wind chills under -30 F. The most extreme wind chills occurred between 7:00 PM MST on 12/21 and 9:00 AM MST on 12/22. Minimum observed wind chills reached -57 F at EW9698 (Harrison) at 2:35 AM MST on 12/22.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTH SIOUX, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 13:13:00 to 22-DEC-22 18:13:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: RAWS

Overnight low temperatures fell to as low as -23 F across southern Sioux County from 12/21 into 12/22, with daytime highs generally remaining under -10 F during the afternoon on 12/22. Sustained winds 15-25 MPH resulted in a prolonged period of extreme wind chills under -30 F. The most extreme wind chills occurred between 1:00 AM and 8:00 AM MST on 12/22. Minimum observed wind chill values reached -52 F at AGTN1 (3 NE of Agate) at 1:13 AM MST on 12/22.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in DAWES, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 08:22:00 to 23-DEC-22 07:22:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: RAWS

Overnight low temperatures ranged from -17 F to -24 F across Dawes County from 12/21 into 12/22, with daytime highs remaining under -5 F during the afternoon on 12/22. Sustained winds 20-30 MPH resulted in a prolonged period of extreme wind chills under -30 F. The most extreme wind chills occurred between 8:00 PM MST on 12/21 and 11:00 AM MST on 12/22. The Chadron Airport ASOS (KCDR) recorded a wind chill of -51 F at 6:45 AM MST on 12/22. Minimum observed wind chill values reached -57 F at HRSN1 (Kings Canyon, 7 S of Chadron) between 1:22 AM and 7:22 AM MST on 12/22.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in BOX BUTTE, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 09:10:00 to 23-DEC-22 07:55:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Department of Highways

Overnight low temperatures fell to around -20 F across Box Butte County from 12/21 into 12/22, with daytime highs generally remaining above -5 F during the afternoon on 12/22. Sustained winds 15-25 MPH resulted in a prolonged period of extreme wind chills under -30 F. The most extreme wind chills occurred between 8:00 PM MST on 12/21 and 12:00 PM MST on 12/22. The Alliance Airport ASOS (KAIA) recorded a wind chill of -50 F between 12:00 AM and 3:30 AM MST on 12/22. Minimum observed wind chill values reached -52 F at NB033 (Flaherty's Corner Highway 71, 19 ESE of Agate) at 2:05 AM MST on 12/22.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SCOTTS BLUFF, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 15:04:00 to 23-DEC-22 07:34:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: RAWS

Overnight low temperatures ranging from -16 F to -19 F were observed across Scotts Bluff County from 12/21 into 12/22, with daytime highs remaining in the single digits below zero during the afternoon on 12/22. Sustained winds 15-25 MPH resulted in a prolonged period of extreme wind chills under -30 F. The most extreme wind chills occurred between 10:00 PM MST on 12/21 and 10:00 AM MST on 12/22. The Scottsbluff Airport ASOS (KBFF) recorded a wind chill of -51 F at 4:10 AM MST on 12/22. Minimum observed wind chill values reached -52 F at SBFN1 (2 W of Gering) at 1:34 AM and 4:34 AM MST on 12/22.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in BANNER, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 13:55:00 to 22-DEC-22 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: AWOS

An overnight low temperature of -23 F, combined with sustained winds 25-35 MPH resulted in a period of extreme wind chills across Banner County. Minimum observed wind chill values reached -58 F at K1BW (Bravo, 9 NE of Albin) at 6:55 AM MST on 12/22.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in MORRILL, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 16:25:00 to 23-DEC-22 03:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Overnight low temperatures fell to as low as -19 F across Morrill County from 12/21 into 12/22, with daytime highs generally remaining under -5 F during the afternoon on 12/22. Sustained winds 20-30 MPH resulted in a prolonged period of wind chills under -30 F. The most extreme wind chills occurred between 2:00 AM and 10:00 AM MST on 12/22. Minimum observed wind chill values reached -49 F at UP023 (8 WNW of Bridgeport) at 6:39 AM MST on 12/22.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in KIMBALL, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 13:55:00 to 23-DEC-22 06:55:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: AWOS

Overnight low temperatures fell to as low as -22 F at multiple sites across Kimball County from 12/21 into 12/22, with daytime highs generally remaining at or below -10 F during the afternoon on 12/22. Sustained winds 15-30 MPH resulted in a prolonged period of extreme wind chills under -30 F. The most extreme wind chills occurred between 11:00 PM MST on 12/21 and 11:00 AM MST on 12/22. The Kimball Airport AWOS (KIBM) recorded a persistent wind chill of -52 F between 3:15 AM MST and 7:35 AM MST on 12/22. Minimum observed wind chill values reached -55 F at K1DW (Delta, 11 NNE of Bushnell) at 5:55 AM MST on 12/22.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in CHEYENNE, NEBRASKA
From 21-DEC-22 12:58:00 to 23-DEC-22 09:19:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Overnight low temperatures ranged from -19 F to -25 F across Cheyenne County from 12/21 into 12/22, with daytime high temperatures generally remaining under -5 F during the afternoon on 12/22. Sustained winds 20-30 MPH resulted in a prolonged period of extreme wind chills under -30 F. The most extreme wind chills occurred between 11:00 PM MST on 12/21 and 12:00 PM MST on 12/22. The Sidney Airport (KSNY) recorded a wind chill of -54 F at 5:00 AM MST on 12/22. Minimum observed wind chills reached -57 F at UP286 (1 WNW of Brownson) at 7:52 AM and 11:44 AM MST on 12/22.