Arctic blast dropping temperatures in U.S. to lows not seen in years

Mariano Castillo. AnneClaire Stapleton and Ben Brumfield, CNN
Updated 12:08 AM EST, Sun January 5, 2014
Snow and ice blanket downtown St. Louis and the Mississippi River on Wednesday, January 8.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Snow and ice blanket downtown St. Louis and the Mississippi River on Wednesday, January 8.
Kiichiro Sato/AP
People wait outside the Broadway Theatre in New York City to buy tickets for the show "Cinderella" on January 8.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
People wait outside the Broadway Theatre in New York City to buy tickets for the show "Cinderella" on January 8.
Mark Lennihan/AP
Water dripping from a New York City subway station freezes on a traffic cone January 8.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Water dripping from a New York City subway station freezes on a traffic cone January 8.
Bebeto Matthews/AP
A man walks past a car in Baltimore that is partially covered in ice January 8.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man walks past a car in Baltimore that is partially covered in ice January 8.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Ice collects on the Delaware River near Philadelphia on January 8.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Ice collects on the Delaware River near Philadelphia on January 8.
Matt Rourke/AP
Icicles hang from the bumper of a vehicle in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Icicles hang from the bumper of a vehicle in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, January 7.
Devon Ravine/Northwest Florida Daily/AP
A vehicle drives through a barely visible intersection in Stafford, New York, on January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A vehicle drives through a barely visible intersection in Stafford, New York, on January 7.
Tina Macintyre-Yee/Democrat & Chronicle/AP
Plants covered in ice are seen in Panama City Beach, Florida, on January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Plants covered in ice are seen in Panama City Beach, Florida, on January 7.
Andrew Wardlow/The News Herald/AP
Ice in the Mississippi River flows past the Gateway Arch in St. Louis on January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Ice in the Mississippi River flows past the Gateway Arch in St. Louis on January 7.
Jeff Roberson/AP
Ice forms around rocks on the Brooklyn waterfront, across from Lower Manhattan, on January 7, in New York City.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Ice forms around rocks on the Brooklyn waterfront, across from Lower Manhattan, on January 7, in New York City.
Peter Morgan/AP
A woman braves the cold in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A woman braves the cold in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on January 7.
Butch Comegys/The Scranton Times-Tribune/AP
Passengers wait for a train to arrive in Chicago on January 7, when temperatures were below zero.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Passengers wait for a train to arrive in Chicago on January 7, when temperatures were below zero.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
A man clenches his fists while walking past a steam vent in New York City on January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man clenches his fists while walking past a steam vent in New York City on January 7.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
A man bundles up against the cold in New York City on January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man bundles up against the cold in New York City on January 7.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
A couple walks past an advertisement in Pittsburgh during sub-zero temperatures January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A couple walks past an advertisement in Pittsburgh during sub-zero temperatures January 7.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
A woman tries to stay warm while waiting for a bus in Brooklyn, New York, on January 7.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A woman tries to stay warm while waiting for a bus in Brooklyn, New York, on January 7.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Ice builds up along Lake Michigan at Chicago's North Avenue Beach on Monday, January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Ice builds up along Lake Michigan at Chicago's North Avenue Beach on Monday, January 6.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
With temperatures nearing 0 degrees, a cloud of steam from a manhole blows across an intersection in downtown Pittsburgh on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
With temperatures nearing 0 degrees, a cloud of steam from a manhole blows across an intersection in downtown Pittsburgh on January 6.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Men battle the bitter wind as they walk in Chicago on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Men battle the bitter wind as they walk in Chicago on January 6.
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
Postal worker Jamie Jasmon struggles to deliver mail in the snow January 6 in Springfield, Illinois.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Postal worker Jamie Jasmon struggles to deliver mail in the snow January 6 in Springfield, Illinois.
Seth Perlman/AP
Vehicles drive down a snow-covered road in Burton, Michigan, on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Vehicles drive down a snow-covered road in Burton, Michigan, on January 6.
Ryan Garza/Detroit Free Press/AP
Metra employees in Chicago walk around LaSalle Street Station on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Metra employees in Chicago walk around LaSalle Street Station on January 6.
Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune/MCT/Sipa USA
A man warms his hand while running errands in Flint, Michigan, on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man warms his hand while running errands in Flint, Michigan, on January 6.
Jake May/MLive.com/Landov
A commuter walks past warming lamps at a Chicago train station on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A commuter walks past warming lamps at a Chicago train station on January 6.
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
A woman props up her feet on her luggage January 6 after her flight home was canceled at Logan International Airport in Boston.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A woman props up her feet on her luggage January 6 after her flight home was canceled at Logan International Airport in Boston.
Charles Krupa/AP
A woman makes her way through a snow drift in downtown St. Louis on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A woman makes her way through a snow drift in downtown St. Louis on January 6.
David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT/Sipa USA
A man shovels the snow off his car in Indianapolis on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man shovels the snow off his car in Indianapolis on January 6.
Michael Conroy/AP
A woman walks to the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A woman walks to the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus on January 6.
Chris Polydsoroff/The St. Paul Pioneer Press/AP
A man clears the sidewalk in front of his home in Carmel, Indiana, on January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man clears the sidewalk in front of his home in Carmel, Indiana, on January 6.
Michael Conroy/AP
A blanket of fog covers Lake Michigan along the Chicago shoreline January 6.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A blanket of fog covers Lake Michigan along the Chicago shoreline January 6.
Teresa Crawford/AP
A man braves the snow in downtown Springfield as a winter storm moves across the Midwest on Sunday, January 5.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man braves the snow in downtown Springfield as a winter storm moves across the Midwest on Sunday, January 5.
Seth Perlman/AP
A car is buried in snow January 5 in Zionsville, Indiana.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A car is buried in snow January 5 in Zionsville, Indiana.
Darron Cummings/AP
A city snowplow clears the street in an almost-deserted downtown Springfield on January 5.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A city snowplow clears the street in an almost-deserted downtown Springfield on January 5.
Seth Perlman/AP
With the Gateway Arch in the distance, a person struggles to cross the street during a snowstorm January 5 in downtown St. Louis.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
With the Gateway Arch in the distance, a person struggles to cross the street during a snowstorm January 5 in downtown St. Louis.
Jeff Roberson/AP
Snow covers a garden gnome in St. Louis on January 5.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Snow covers a garden gnome in St. Louis on January 5.
Jeff Roberson/AP
Anna Maksimkina of Yekaterinburg, Russia, sleeps on the floor at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after a Delta flight from Toronto to New York skidded off the runway into a snow bank, temporarily halting all flights January 5.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Anna Maksimkina of Yekaterinburg, Russia, sleeps on the floor at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after a Delta flight from Toronto to New York skidded off the runway into a snow bank, temporarily halting all flights January 5.
Kathy Willens/AP
Four homeless men warm themselves on a steam grate by the Federal Trade Commission Building, blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, as frigid temperatures grip the nation's capital on Saturday, January 4.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Four homeless men warm themselves on a steam grate by the Federal Trade Commission Building, blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, as frigid temperatures grip the nation's capital on Saturday, January 4.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
People go sledding in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, on January 4.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
People go sledding in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, on January 4.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Snow is piled high in front of a Home Depot in Boston on January 4.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Snow is piled high in front of a Home Depot in Boston on January 4.
Darren McCollester/Getty Images
Sunlight beams through the windows of a building that caught on fire Friday, January 3, in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. The firefighters' water froze all over the building.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Sunlight beams through the windows of a building that caught on fire Friday, January 3, in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. The firefighters' water froze all over the building.
Nati HarnikAP
Michael Stanton walks between houses covered with ice in Scituate, Massachusetts, on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Michael Stanton walks between houses covered with ice in Scituate, Massachusetts, on January 3.
Michael Dwyer/AP
Pedestrians brave wind and snow as they cross New York City's Fifth Avenue on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Pedestrians brave wind and snow as they cross New York City's Fifth Avenue on January 3.
John Minchillo/AP
Snow clings to the clothing and facial hair of Jerome Williams as he uses a snowblower in front of his home in Roosevelt, New York, on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Snow clings to the clothing and facial hair of Jerome Williams as he uses a snowblower in front of his home in Roosevelt, New York, on January 3.
J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday/AP
Travelers wait in line January 3 at Chicago Midway International Airport.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Travelers wait in line January 3 at Chicago Midway International Airport.
Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/MCT/Landov
Frost covers the windows at the Morning Glory natural food store in Brunswick, Maine, on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Frost covers the windows at the Morning Glory natural food store in Brunswick, Maine, on January 3.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Snowplows clear snow from one of the runways at JFK Airport on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Snowplows clear snow from one of the runways at JFK Airport on January 3.
ANDREW GOMBERT/EPA/Landov
Surfers make their way through snow on New York's Rockaway Beach on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Surfers make their way through snow on New York's Rockaway Beach on January 3.
ANDREW GOMBERT/EPA/Landov
Passengers wait in line at a security checkpoint at JFK Airport on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Passengers wait in line at a security checkpoint at JFK Airport on January 3.
ANDREW GOMBERT/EPA/Landov
Blowing snow swirls as a worker shovels a platform at a Haddonfield, New Jersey, train station on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Blowing snow swirls as a worker shovels a platform at a Haddonfield, New Jersey, train station on January 3.
Tom Gralish/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT/Landov
A plane takes off January 3 as trucks plow snow at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A plane takes off January 3 as trucks plow snow at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey.
Julio Cortez/AP
A man walks down a snowy road along the shore in Scituate on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man walks down a snowy road along the shore in Scituate on January 3.
Michael Dwyer/AP
Postal worker Danny Kim clears snow and ice off the hood of his delivery truck January 3 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Postal worker Danny Kim clears snow and ice off the hood of his delivery truck January 3 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Charles Dharapak/AP
A couple walks across a snow-covered parking lot January 3 at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A couple walks across a snow-covered parking lot January 3 at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Julio Cortez/AP
Tourists play in the snow at the base of the Washington Monument on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Tourists play in the snow at the base of the Washington Monument on January 3.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
People play in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
People play in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on January 3.
Ruaridh Connellan/Barcroft Media/Landov
A man walks through the snow as the wind kicks it up January 3 in New York City.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man walks through the snow as the wind kicks it up January 3 in New York City.
John Angelillo/UPI/LANDOV
Dante de Blasio, son of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, shovels snow outside his home in Brooklyn on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Dante de Blasio, son of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, shovels snow outside his home in Brooklyn on January 3.
Ruaridh Connellan/Barcroft Media /Landov
Snow covers subway rails in New York City on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Snow covers subway rails in New York City on January 3.
Yin Bogu/XINHUA/LANDOV
A man uses his snowblower to clear some paths in Mansfield, Connecticut, on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man uses his snowblower to clear some paths in Mansfield, Connecticut, on January 3.
Mark Mirko/FoxCT
Workers clear snow off sidewalks on New York City's Fifth Avenue on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Workers clear snow off sidewalks on New York City's Fifth Avenue on January 3.
John Minchillo/AP
A man clears snow from a vehicle January 3 in Albany, New York.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man clears snow from a vehicle January 3 in Albany, New York.
Mike Groll/AP
A truck-mounted snowblower clears a section of road in Dedham, Massachusetts, on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A truck-mounted snowblower clears a section of road in Dedham, Massachusetts, on January 3.
MATT CAMPBELL/EPA/LANDOV
A worker clears snow from a subway station in Queens, New York, on January 3. Public schools were closed Friday after up to 7 inches of snow fell in New York City.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A worker clears snow from a subway station in Queens, New York, on January 3. Public schools were closed Friday after up to 7 inches of snow fell in New York City.
John Minchillo/AP
A man shovels snow during the tail end of a snowstorm in Brooklyn on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man shovels snow during the tail end of a snowstorm in Brooklyn on January 3.
JUSTIN LANE/EPA/LANDOV
A man rides an all-terrain vehicle through a Brooklyn street on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man rides an all-terrain vehicle through a Brooklyn street on January 3.
JUSTIN LANE/EPA/LANDOV
The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial is covered in snow in Annapolis, Maryland, on January 3.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial is covered in snow in Annapolis, Maryland, on January 3.
Susan Walsh/AP
A man plows snow January 3 following an overnight snowstorm in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man plows snow January 3 following an overnight snowstorm in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Julio Cortez/AP
A child sleds down a hill in Chicago's Humboldt Park on Thursday, January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A child sleds down a hill in Chicago's Humboldt Park on Thursday, January 2.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Children make a snow pile in New York's Times Square on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Children make a snow pile in New York's Times Square on January 2.
John Minchillo/AP
Winds whip snow from the beach across Winthrop Shore Drive in Winthrop, Massachusetts.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Winds whip snow from the beach across Winthrop Shore Drive in Winthrop, Massachusetts.
Darren McCollester/Getty Images
Snow covers bikes along Leavitt Street in Chicago's Wicker Park on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Snow covers bikes along Leavitt Street in Chicago's Wicker Park on January 2.
Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune/MCT/Landov
With his dog in tow, a man skis across heavy snow in Humboldt Park on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
With his dog in tow, a man skis across heavy snow in Humboldt Park on January 2.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Dallas Todd, 11, flies down a snowy hill at Lake Harbor Park in Norton Shores, Michigan, on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Dallas Todd, 11, flies down a snowy hill at Lake Harbor Park in Norton Shores, Michigan, on January 2.
NATALIE KOLB/MLIVE.COM /Landov
Snow covers cars in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
Snow covers cars in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood on January 2.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
A man drags a suitcase on a snowy street in downtown Boston on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man drags a suitcase on a snowy street in downtown Boston on January 2.
Elise Amendola/AP
A van is pulled from a ditch along Interstate 94 in Jackson, Michigan, on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A van is pulled from a ditch along Interstate 94 in Jackson, Michigan, on January 2.
J. Scott Park/MLIVE.COM/Landov
A man walks his dog on the snow-covered Monon Trail in Carmel, Indiana, on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
A man walks his dog on the snow-covered Monon Trail in Carmel, Indiana, on January 2.
Michael Conroy/AP
An airplane waits for passengers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on January 2.
Winter weather grips U.S. —
An airplane waits for passengers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on January 2.
Nam Y. Huh/AP