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| Minus 100 Degrees. That’s How Cold It Could Feel Atop Mount Washington | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The winter storm that barreled from Florida to Maine and cloaked the East Coast in snow has moved on, but frigid air — and plenty of icy, then slushy, messes — will linger for days. | The winter storm that barreled from Florida to Maine and cloaked the East Coast in snow has moved on, but frigid air — and plenty of icy, then slushy, messes — will linger for days. |
| “While conditions have begun to improve across the Northeastern U.S., the arctic surge is already underway accompanied by brisk winds at times,” the National Weather Service said in a forecast early Friday. “Dangerously low wind chill temperatures are to be expected the next couple of days with some blowing snow possible.” | “While conditions have begun to improve across the Northeastern U.S., the arctic surge is already underway accompanied by brisk winds at times,” the National Weather Service said in a forecast early Friday. “Dangerously low wind chill temperatures are to be expected the next couple of days with some blowing snow possible.” |
| The system, which some forecasters classified as a “bomb cyclone” because of a steep decline in atmospheric pressure, proved paralytic in parts of more than a dozen states, cracking water pipes, shutting down schools, flooding streets and making roads treacherous. The authorities said at least seven fatalities appeared connected to the weather. | The system, which some forecasters classified as a “bomb cyclone” because of a steep decline in atmospheric pressure, proved paralytic in parts of more than a dozen states, cracking water pipes, shutting down schools, flooding streets and making roads treacherous. The authorities said at least seven fatalities appeared connected to the weather. |
| Here’s the latest: | Here’s the latest: |
| • In many places, temperatures are not expected to increase dramatically until next week. The Weather Service said high temperatures will “struggle to get above the single digits” in some areas through Saturday and that “many” records could be broken. | • In many places, temperatures are not expected to increase dramatically until next week. The Weather Service said high temperatures will “struggle to get above the single digits” in some areas through Saturday and that “many” records could be broken. |
| • The forecasted wind chills are particularly worrisome for emergency officials. Meteorologists said parts of Maine could experience wind chills of minus 40, but the bitter cold was not restricted to the East Coast’s northernmost areas. Wind chills could reach minus 15 in the North Carolina mountains and 25 below zero in parts of eastern Pennsylvania. | • The forecasted wind chills are particularly worrisome for emergency officials. Meteorologists said parts of Maine could experience wind chills of minus 40, but the bitter cold was not restricted to the East Coast’s northernmost areas. Wind chills could reach minus 15 in the North Carolina mountains and 25 below zero in parts of eastern Pennsylvania. |
| • Airlines have canceled nearly 1,500 flights that were scheduled for Friday, according to FlightAware, an aviation monitoring website. The storm forced airlines to scrub about 5,500 flights on Thursday, and FlightAware said Friday morning that it expected the aviation industry “to begin recovering this afternoon.” | • Airlines have canceled nearly 1,500 flights that were scheduled for Friday, according to FlightAware, an aviation monitoring website. The storm forced airlines to scrub about 5,500 flights on Thursday, and FlightAware said Friday morning that it expected the aviation industry “to begin recovering this afternoon.” |
| • Many school districts that were closed on Thursday resumed classes on Friday. Students returned in New York City, home to the nation’s largest public school district, and Washington. But classes were still canceled in Boston and Philadelphia, among other places. | • Many school districts that were closed on Thursday resumed classes on Friday. Students returned in New York City, home to the nation’s largest public school district, and Washington. But classes were still canceled in Boston and Philadelphia, among other places. |
| • Utility companies reported they had restored electricity to tens of thousands of customers. A major electric company in Virginia said Friday morning that about 3,000 home and businesses lacked electricity, down from more than 40,000 on Thursday. | • Utility companies reported they had restored electricity to tens of thousands of customers. A major electric company in Virginia said Friday morning that about 3,000 home and businesses lacked electricity, down from more than 40,000 on Thursday. |
| • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. | • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. |
| At the summit of Mount Washington, in New Hampshire, often one of the coldest places in New England during a winter storm, furious winds are expected to make the air feel as frigid as 100 degrees below zero. | |
| “With dangerously low wind chills and poor visibilities from thick fog, falling snow and blowing snow, treacherous conditions will prevail above treeline into tomorrow before slowly beginning to improve,” Caleb Meute, a staff meteorologist at the Mount Washington Observatory, wrote in a forecast on Friday morning, adding that actual temperatures could reach 40 degrees below zero and said exposed skin could be frostbitten within one minute. | “With dangerously low wind chills and poor visibilities from thick fog, falling snow and blowing snow, treacherous conditions will prevail above treeline into tomorrow before slowly beginning to improve,” Caleb Meute, a staff meteorologist at the Mount Washington Observatory, wrote in a forecast on Friday morning, adding that actual temperatures could reach 40 degrees below zero and said exposed skin could be frostbitten within one minute. |
| Two of our reporters, Katherine Q. Seeyle and Jess Bidgood, are road tripping to Mount Washington on Friday, and capturing their journey on Twitter. | |
| Here’s one photograph from 3,900 feet. | |
| “Feels like the wind is sucking your breath out of you,” Ms. Bidgood wrote. “Your lashes want to freeze together, and your eyes just ache. And we’re not at top!” | |
| Follow them on Twitter here, @jessbidgood and @kseelye. | |
| Temperature records have been falling along the East Coast all week, and forecasters said Friday and Saturday were likely to force even more updates to their record books. | Temperature records have been falling along the East Coast all week, and forecasters said Friday and Saturday were likely to force even more updates to their record books. |
| Meteorologists thought a 113-year-old record for the coldest maximum temperature of any Jan. 5 in Hartford, Conn. — 18 degrees — would change on a day when the projected high was just 12. | Meteorologists thought a 113-year-old record for the coldest maximum temperature of any Jan. 5 in Hartford, Conn. — 18 degrees — would change on a day when the projected high was just 12. |
| The story was much the same in Bridgeport, Conn., where Friday’s predicted maximum high temperature of 14 would break a 22-year-old record by double digits. | The story was much the same in Bridgeport, Conn., where Friday’s predicted maximum high temperature of 14 would break a 22-year-old record by double digits. |
| In Worcester, Mass., a record on the books since 1904 was likely to fall, too, with a high of 8 expected. | In Worcester, Mass., a record on the books since 1904 was likely to fall, too, with a high of 8 expected. |
| But forecast and historical data compiled by Jessica Spaccio, a climatologist at the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University, suggested that Jan. 5 records would likely hold up in places like Boston, Portland, Me., and Concord, N.H. | But forecast and historical data compiled by Jessica Spaccio, a climatologist at the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University, suggested that Jan. 5 records would likely hold up in places like Boston, Portland, Me., and Concord, N.H. |
| Saturday, though, could challenge history in all three cities. The predicted highs for Boston (8 degrees) and Portland (4 degrees) are just one degree above their records, and Concord was expected to tie its coldest high temperature for the day: 2 degrees. | Saturday, though, could challenge history in all three cities. The predicted highs for Boston (8 degrees) and Portland (4 degrees) are just one degree above their records, and Concord was expected to tie its coldest high temperature for the day: 2 degrees. |
| The temperature was 15 degrees. Snow, recently piled up on the piers and docks, had been partly cleared. And ice — 5 or 6 inches thick in some spots — still floated in the waters around the Port of New Bedford, Mass. | The temperature was 15 degrees. Snow, recently piled up on the piers and docks, had been partly cleared. And ice — 5 or 6 inches thick in some spots — still floated in the waters around the Port of New Bedford, Mass. |
| No matter. | No matter. |
| “Friday is a big day for fish, and today is no different,” Edward Anthes-Washburn, the port director, said in a telephone interview. “We’re back to normal.” | “Friday is a big day for fish, and today is no different,” Edward Anthes-Washburn, the port director, said in a telephone interview. “We’re back to normal.” |
| The winter storm and the subfreezing temperatures paused New England’s seafood industry and, in the case of New Bedford, prompted several hundred vessels to come into the port. | The winter storm and the subfreezing temperatures paused New England’s seafood industry and, in the case of New Bedford, prompted several hundred vessels to come into the port. |
| The United States Coast Guard broke up ice throughout the region, and in New Bedford, south of Boston, workers had a tugboat they could use to tear through some ice. | The United States Coast Guard broke up ice throughout the region, and in New Bedford, south of Boston, workers had a tugboat they could use to tear through some ice. |
| Mr. Anthes-Washburn said his port had not yet summoned the Coast Guard, as it did in 2015. But he said that the early tenor of this winter suggested he would eventually need to. | Mr. Anthes-Washburn said his port had not yet summoned the Coast Guard, as it did in 2015. But he said that the early tenor of this winter suggested he would eventually need to. |
| “We likely will need it at some point this season,” he said on Friday morning, when the thermometer read 15 degrees. “In 2015, it wasn’t until February and March that we had the ice. So the fact that we’re in early January and there’s pretty significant ice floes already, we’ll likely need them if not sooner, certainly later.” | “We likely will need it at some point this season,” he said on Friday morning, when the thermometer read 15 degrees. “In 2015, it wasn’t until February and March that we had the ice. So the fact that we’re in early January and there’s pretty significant ice floes already, we’ll likely need them if not sooner, certainly later.” |
| “Last night was a quieter one for troopers on our highways,” said Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina on Friday. “It appears that many people heeded the warnings and stayed off the roads, and there were far fewer collisions.” | |
| Mr. Cooper, though, said icy areas remained, particularly on surface and residential streets. | |
| The North Carolina authorities have blamed the storm for four deaths, all of which involved traffic accidents. | |
| Blue skies and sunshine are in store for Friday and Saturday in the New York area, but with highs near 15 and lows around 9, it will feel like 5 or 10 below zero with the wind. | Blue skies and sunshine are in store for Friday and Saturday in the New York area, but with highs near 15 and lows around 9, it will feel like 5 or 10 below zero with the wind. |
| A wind chill advisory remains in effect until Saturday morning. Hat and gloves are an absolute must. Read more here with New York Today. | A wind chill advisory remains in effect until Saturday morning. Hat and gloves are an absolute must. Read more here with New York Today. |
| In southern Delaware, where snowstorms and long, frigid winter stretches are less common than in the Northeast, homeless shelters have had to organize opening during the day — not just as night — to accommodate people. | In southern Delaware, where snowstorms and long, frigid winter stretches are less common than in the Northeast, homeless shelters have had to organize opening during the day — not just as night — to accommodate people. |
| “With the frigid temperatures, you can’t really be walking around,” said Nikki Gonzalez, executive director for Code Purple Sussex County, a network that organizes shelters and volunteers to staff them. “You know, Delaware is not really used to a ton of snow.” | “With the frigid temperatures, you can’t really be walking around,” said Nikki Gonzalez, executive director for Code Purple Sussex County, a network that organizes shelters and volunteers to staff them. “You know, Delaware is not really used to a ton of snow.” |
| Her group has two shelters, in the towns of Milford and Seaford, opening during the day through Sunday, in addition to another four shelters opening overnight. | Her group has two shelters, in the towns of Milford and Seaford, opening during the day through Sunday, in addition to another four shelters opening overnight. |
| The recent bitter cold has made it a challenge to find overnight volunteers able to drive to shelters, and to secure meals for the homeless, Ms. Gonzalez said. Last weekend, she “put out a plea” on social media when one location was in need of dinner, and a friend came through with pizza. | The recent bitter cold has made it a challenge to find overnight volunteers able to drive to shelters, and to secure meals for the homeless, Ms. Gonzalez said. Last weekend, she “put out a plea” on social media when one location was in need of dinner, and a friend came through with pizza. |
| “Facebook is a pretty good avenue to instantly get some help,” she said. | “Facebook is a pretty good avenue to instantly get some help,” she said. |
| Sophia Smith thought she had beaten the “bomb cyclone.” But minutes after boarding a New York-bound plane on Thursday morning, a text message from the airline arrived. | Sophia Smith thought she had beaten the “bomb cyclone.” But minutes after boarding a New York-bound plane on Thursday morning, a text message from the airline arrived. |
| Her flight was canceled. | Her flight was canceled. |
| Ms. Smith’s trip home from Orlando, Fla., was among the thousands of flights scrapped on Thursday as a winter storm pounded the Northeast and sent problems rippling out to airports across the country. | Ms. Smith’s trip home from Orlando, Fla., was among the thousands of flights scrapped on Thursday as a winter storm pounded the Northeast and sent problems rippling out to airports across the country. |
| Some airlines offered refunds and notified travelers of the cancellations hours in advance, drawing praise from stranded passengers. But many other travelers found themselves marooned in airports far from home and frustrated by limited options for rebooking. | Some airlines offered refunds and notified travelers of the cancellations hours in advance, drawing praise from stranded passengers. But many other travelers found themselves marooned in airports far from home and frustrated by limited options for rebooking. |
| In Ms. Smith’s case, she said her airline offered two unpalatable choices: take an eight-hour trip on Friday with a layover in out-of-the-way Dallas, or wait and fly direct to New York on Sunday. She chose the latter. | In Ms. Smith’s case, she said her airline offered two unpalatable choices: take an eight-hour trip on Friday with a layover in out-of-the-way Dallas, or wait and fly direct to New York on Sunday. She chose the latter. |
| “I was happy to kind of rearrange my travel plans in light of the weather,” said Ms. Smith, a Brooklyn resident who had hoped to return to her theater work. But she said the airline’s options were “ridiculous.” Read more here. | “I was happy to kind of rearrange my travel plans in light of the weather,” said Ms. Smith, a Brooklyn resident who had hoped to return to her theater work. But she said the airline’s options were “ridiculous.” Read more here. |
| Boston’s Long Wharf area became a slushy mess when a three-foot tidal surge pushed floodwaters into buildings and down the steps of the Aquarium mass transit station on Thursday. Firefighters rescued one person who was trapped in a car that had water nearly to its door handles. | Boston’s Long Wharf area became a slushy mess when a three-foot tidal surge pushed floodwaters into buildings and down the steps of the Aquarium mass transit station on Thursday. Firefighters rescued one person who was trapped in a car that had water nearly to its door handles. |
| “This is the first time I’ve ever seen the water come this high in the downtown area,” Joseph Finn, the city’s fire commissioner, said then as the wind whipped heavy snow through the air. | “This is the first time I’ve ever seen the water come this high in the downtown area,” Joseph Finn, the city’s fire commissioner, said then as the wind whipped heavy snow through the air. |
| Mr. Finn said emergency workers had made some other rescues in coastal areas of the city, helping people out of stranded cars in the icy water, and city officials said flooding had extended to other neighborhoods, including the Seaport, Dorchester and East Boston. | Mr. Finn said emergency workers had made some other rescues in coastal areas of the city, helping people out of stranded cars in the icy water, and city officials said flooding had extended to other neighborhoods, including the Seaport, Dorchester and East Boston. |
| On Friday, the National Weather Service confirmed that Thursday’s peak tide of 4.88 feet was the highest ever recorded in Boston. The previous record, of 4.82 feet, was set during the Blizzard of ’78. | On Friday, the National Weather Service confirmed that Thursday’s peak tide of 4.88 feet was the highest ever recorded in Boston. The previous record, of 4.82 feet, was set during the Blizzard of ’78. |
| Some scientists studying the connection between climate change and cold spells, which occur when cold Arctic air dips south, say that they may be related. But the importance of the relationship is not fully clear yet. Read more here. | Some scientists studying the connection between climate change and cold spells, which occur when cold Arctic air dips south, say that they may be related. But the importance of the relationship is not fully clear yet. Read more here. |
| When temperatures dip into the 30s and 40s, Floridians know to be on the lookout for reptiles stunned — but not necessarily killed — by the cold. They can come back to life again when it warms up. | |
| In Boca Raton, Frank Cerabino, a Palm Beach Post columnist familiar with the creatures, stepped outside and saw a bright green specimen by his pool on Thursday morning, feet up. | |
| “He didn’t move,” Mr. Cerabino said. “But he’s probably still alive. My experience is that they take a while to die.” | |
| In the end, the iguana lived. Read more here. |