Historic Cold Continues across Eastern U.S.

Dangerously low temperatures affecting much of the eastern U.S.

Historic cold with dangerously low temperatures impacting much of the eastern half of the U.S., with many locations experiencing temperatures as low as 45 degrees below average, and some records threatened, said the National Weather Service (NWS).

A massive surge of arctic air later this week will impact most of the U.S., as another cold front slides south from Canada, said NWS.

“There are indications that this could be some of the coldest weather since the mid-1990s for some parts of the Southeast U.S., Mid-Atlantic, and central Appalachians. An eddy of the polar vortex will add to the potency of the surface cold front, thus creating a deep layer of bitterly cold air. Highs on Thursday and Friday will struggle to get out of the teens for many of these areas, and overnight lows could reach zero degrees or even lower in some places! Wind chill advisories and warnings are currently in effect. The overnight lows on Thursday night will be the coldest in those areas where the wind goes calm, allowing for additional
radiational cooling.”

• Historic cold impacting eastern U.S. through Friday.
• Another storm system developing over the southern U.S.
• Dangerous wind chills are forecast from the northern Plains to the Gulf Coast.
• Temperatures will be as low as 45 degrees below average for much of region.
• Heavy snow is forecast for parts of Northern New England.
• Rain/freezing rain and sleet could affect parts of the Lower/Middle
  Mississippi Valley/Tennessee Valley.

Low temperature ending February 19, 2015 (NWS).

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)
Issued 7 am EST Thursday, February 19, 2015

High Temperature for Wednesday, February 18, 2015
29.4ºC (85 degrees F) at Thermal, CA

Low Temperature for Thursday, February 19, 2015
-40.5ºC (-41 degrees F) at Embarrass, MN
NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD

[Temperature spread: 70ºC (126 degrees F), as calculated by FIRE-EARTH]

Arctic cold hits New England

Deadly Arctic blast from Canada freezes northern U.S.

Many Schools in Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire close, as temperatures dip to as low as minus 35 [with wind chill of -51ºF.]

Sub-zero temperatures have been linked to at least two deaths in New England, “including a woman whose frozen body was found in a driveway,” a report said.

NE US Temperature Map – Graphical Forecasts

US Temperature Map – Graphical Forecasts – CONUS Area

“Train equipment froze, cars sputtered, schools canceled classes and cold-weather enthusiasts stayed inside Monday as a bitter blast of below-zero temperatures with potentials for minus 50 wind chills gripped the Northeast.” Source

“Vermont’s largest electric utility says about 24-hundred customers are without power in the Leicester area on the coldest winter morning in the last two years.” Source

“Some of the cold spots in northern New England in the overnight hours included minus-33 in Victory, 32 below in Whitefield, N.H. and 28 below in Fryeburg, Maine. Greenville, Maine recorded a wind chill reading of 46 below zero.” Source