Brrr
Polar vortex stretching (see related links article) has led to bitterly cold temperatures dropping into Nebraska and much of the lower 48 (outside the southwest and Florida) since late last week. A quick look at analysis from IEM shows that all of the climate divisions in the state and throughout the region were top 10 coldest between January 23rd-26th. Not exactly a long stretch but it does represent a significant deviation from the very mild temperatures that were dominant in the second half of December and the first half of January.
The coldest day was Friday when most of the state was stuck between 4 below and 2-3 above with wind chills colder than 30 below in much of the state. Norfolk tied a record cold maximum temperature with a high of 0°F on Friday, January 23rd. Interestingly enough that is the only day in January where Norfolk has a record cold high temperature that is not below 0°F. So the record was partly a luck of landing on the right day of the calendar, but the cold was impressive nevertheless. Wind chill values got as cold as 40-42 below in northeast Nebraska on Friday morning. Temperatures remained in the single digits to lower teens statewide on both Saturday and Sunday with very cold mornings. North Platte tied a record low temperature of -14°F on Sunday, January 25th.
Figure 1. Minimum temperatures on Sunday, January 25th
