Temps plummet, but 1990 record stands

Newcastle fared better than other places — avoiding power outages, massive snow drifts and deaths — as arctic air moved across the nation dropping temperatures to well below zero, and wind chills to dangerously low levels. 
Temperatures began to drop on Dec. 21, according to weather data, reaching minus 17 by 5:30 p.m. The wind chill was minus 43. 
By 9:40 p.m., the real temperature had reached 24 degrees below zero with wind chills reported to be minus 50. Temperatures remained extremely cold overnight, with wind chills dropping to minus 57 on Dec. 22. 
Due to the cold conditions and potential dangers associated with the weather, various local businesses and entities closed their doors and encouraged people to remain at home for their own safety. 
“Due to the forecasted dangerous low temperatures for Thursday (Dec. 22), I am closing all county offices in an attempt to keep employees home, inside and safe,” Weston County Emergency Management Coordinator Gilbert Nelson said. “Frostbite and hypothermia is a real concern with these temperatures. With consultation with the NWS (National Weather Service) with the forecasted temperatures and dangers, I feel it is the right thing to do for our employees, as well to hopefully keep the public inside and safe as well.”
In addition to the Weston County Courthouse, Nelson’s closures also impacted the Weston County Library and Weston County Extension office. Local businesses also closed, including Hometown Medical Clinic, the News Letter Journal and Isabella’s. 
Weston County School District No. 1 chose to start Christmas break a day early, canceling school on Dec. 22 because of the frigid temperatures. The Weston County Children’s Center also
closed early. 
While the winter storm made it cold enough to keep people indoors, it wasn’t cold enough to break any records locally, according to Susan Sanders, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS in Rapid City. 
“Record lows this time of year are pretty extreme …You’ll notice the records were set in 1990 and 1983 — both those years had very long-lasting cold spells in the last half of December,” Sanders said. “1983 was the coldest December in Newcastle with an average temp of 8.9, several degrees below the No. 2 at 13.3 degrees. The average low for the month was minus 2.7.” 
According to the records provided by Sanders, the coldest Dec. 22 in Newcastle occurred in 1990, with a recorded temperature of minus 31, 7 degrees colder than the real temperature recorded this year. 
While Newcastle fared well during the storm, with no reported power outages or stranded motorists, some of the surrounding areas experienced more negative effects from the storm that ended up impacting about 60% of the country’s population. 
According to the Guardian, the storm knocked out power in communities from Maine to Seattle as temperatures plummeted drastically below normal from east of the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians. 
Closer to home, power outages were reported by Rocky Mountain Power in Casper, with over 4,400 people being impacted. Another 2,079 meters were left without power in the Gillette area according to Powder River Energy Corp. 
Unlike Newcastle, Casper also set a record low of minus 42, shattering the previous record of minus 33, according to the NWS. 
“More importantly, 42 below is the coldest temperature ever at Casper Airport,” the weather service said. “The next coldest temperature was 41 below zero which occurred on 12-21-90. Records go back to 1939.”