By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
If it has to be this cold in Hays, it should at least be a record cold - and, it is.
After a high temperature of just 2 degrees is Hays on Sunday, the overnight low dropped to -18 degrees Fahrenheit.
That's a new record low for February 14, according to official records from the K-State Agricultural Center, which date back 152 years.
The previous record low on February 14 in Hays was -9 degrees, set back in 1909.
The wind chill at 8 a.m. Monday - under a sunny sky - was -27 degrees.
Western Kansas, including Ellis County, is in a wind chill warning until 11 a.m. Tuesday, as issued by the National Weather Service in Dodge City.
Midwest Energy is appealing to customers to conserve their use of electricity and natural gas for the next few days.
Gov. Laura Kelly issued a State of Disaster Emergency Sunday afternoon because of the bitterly cold temperatures.
The weather forecast calls for a gradual warmup starting Wednesday.