There are even fears that crowds planning to watch Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration next week could suffer hypothermia and frostbite in sub-zero conditions. This winter has been one of the toughest in decades with temperatures today reaching as low as -38C in large areas of the Midwest and -40C in the coldest place.
But even on the east coast – where conditions are typically milder than the fridgid hinterlands – the icy blast was being felt. New York endured a -14C chill today and further south Washington – which hosts Mr Obama’s inauguration on Tuesday – plunged to 11 degrees below zero. Some places have recorded record lows – with the temperature in Flint, Michigan dipping to an incredible -28C. Bone-chilling winds – known as the Alberta Clipper after a Canadian province – have also led to record snowfall ... Daily Mail