Winter Storm in Custer, Nebraska

A major winter storm with sustained winds of 40 mph and gusts to 65 mph dropped 5 to 6 inches of snow over Sheridan, Cherry, Grant, Thomas and Custer counties of North Central Ne. Three inches to trace amounts fell over Southwest and West Central Ne. The wind combined with temperatures from 5 above to 5 below zero produced wind chills from 45 to 65 below zero and reduced visibilities to near zero on the 17th thru the 18th. A portion of Interstaste 80 from Ogallala to York was closed from the night of the 17th thru the morning of the 19th. A 52 year old man was found frozen to death in his garage in Arnold Ne., Custer County on the 18th. Power lines whipped by the high winds caused 200k damage to a power substation in Broken Bow, Custer Co. In Imperial, Chase County, three 21,000 gal fiberglass fertilizer storage tanks were blown over onto a pickup casusing extensive damage to the pickup and the 3 tanks.