Arctic Blast Leaves Midwest, Northeast in Record‑Cold Chills

On Jan 20, 2026, a powerful arctic blast slammed the U.S. Midwest and Northeast, shattering record wind chill extremes. In Minneapolis the temperature felt like ‑30 °C, while Cedar Rapids, Chicago, and Green Bay recorded ‑27, ‑22, and ‑22 °C respectively. A day later, the cold intensified: Chicago hit ‑13 °C, Green Bay ‑23 °C, and Cleveland ‑12 °C. The Northeast saw wind chills of ‑11 °C in Pittsburgh, 7 °C in Washington, D.C., and 5 °C in New York City. The storm also triggered heavy lake‑effect snowfall, with forecasts of 6–12 inches in western Michigan and the western and upstate New York, threatening 43 million residents. Meteorologists warned of frostbite, hypothermia, and advised precautions.