A dangerous combination of record-breaking low temperatures and strong winds has battered the northeastern United States.
On Saturday, New Hampshire's Mount Washington recorded a wind chill, a measure of how the combined effect of air and wind feels on the skin, of -78 Celsius (-108 Fahrenheit), which appeared to be the lowest ever in the United States.
The air temperature at the summit reached -44 C (-47 F), with winds nearing 160 km/h (100 mph), according to the Mount Washington Observatory.
In Boston, where officials closed the public school system Friday because of the impending freeze, the low temperature reached -23 degrees Celsius, breaking the record for the day set more than a century ago, the National Weather Service (NWS) said ). .
In Providence, Rhode Island, the mercury fell to -23C (-9F), well below the previous record low of -19C (-2F), set in 1918.
The arctic blast flowing into the US from eastern Canada also brought record lows to Albany, New York. Augusta, Maine; Rochester, New York; and Worcester, Massachusetts, among others, the NWS reported.
Several cities took emergency measures to help residents, including opening warming centers and conducting outreaches to ensure the homeless were protected from the bitter cold.
The cold spell was expected to be short-lived, with temperatures expected to be significantly warmer on Sunday. The high temperature in Boston on Sunday will approach 8 degrees Celsius (47 F), the NWS said.
