TThe Christmas week storm of 2022 will long be remembered, not only in Ellsworth County, but across the United States.
According to Chris Jakub, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita, central Kansas experienced wind chills between -31 and -36 degrees Dec. 22. Wind chills like that haven’t been seen in Ellsworth County since Feb. 15, 2021.
“It’s pretty unusual to get that cold,” Jakub said. “We don’t see that that often.”
The next recorded wind chill that low in central Kansas was in 2011.
As far as the remainder of the winter in central Kansas, Jakub said normal temperatures are expected in the period between January through March. That typically means high temperatures in the mid 40s and lows in the low 30s.
However, Jakub said when it comes to moisture, below-normal amounts are expected now through March. Normal precipitation in December is about 1 inch.
The Christmas week storm raised concerns about how area livestock would fare.  
According to Clinton Laflin, livestock agent with the Midway Extension District, cattle producers in the area seem to have weathered the storm.  
“They were able to get through it,” Laflin said, adding producers needed to make sure they had enough feed, water and some kind of windbreak or shelter for their herd to tolerate the bone-chilling wind. He said getting additional feed for cattle herds is getting a little harder, given the economy.
Laflin said he didn’t think this latest winter blast would cause any ripple effects in beef production or output because it lasted only a few days. He said in comparison, last year’s February storm was longer in duration and came during the critical calving season.
At Gene’s Heartland Foods, Ellsworth, manager Ignatius Rodriguez said their only glitch was a frozen condenser caused by the north winds Dec. 22. As a result, the meat cases in the grocery store were down for a half-day before the problem was resolved.