Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — North Sioux, Nebraska

2022-12-21 to 2022-12-23 · North Sioux, Nebraska

Event narrative

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.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1063084. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.