The National Weather Service in Hastings is reporting that December 2008 brought Grand Island and Hastings their coldest average minimum temperatures for the month since 2000.

At Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island, NWS said the average low for the month was 11.3 degrees, or 4.6 degrees below the normal December average low of 15.9 degrees.

Eight days during the month, NWS said, lows dip to zero or colder. The last time a colder December average low occurred was in 2000, which registered 8.5 degrees, according to NWS. The all-time coldest December average low temperature was 0.9 degrees in  1983. Climate records for grand island date to 1895.

At Hastings Municipal Airport, the average low for the month was  12.5 degrees,or 4.7 degrees below the normal december average low of 17.2 degrees. eight days during the month saw lows dip to zero or
colder, the NWS said. The last time a colder December average low occurred was in 2000, which registered 8.5 degrees. the all-time coldest December average low temperature was 1.7 degrees in 1983.