Cold Wave Stretches South, Breaks More Records

A record-breaking cold wave stretched across the nation’s midsection Wednesday, dropping temperatures below freezing in the central Plains and prompting freeze warnings as far south as northern Alabama and Mississippi.

The low temperatures combined with winds as high as 40 m.p.h. to send the wind-chill factor to 30 to 50 degrees below zero across parts of Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota, the National Weather Service said.

The latest blast of Canadian air, described as “more typical of December or January or the middle of winter,” swept down from the Yukon into the northern Plains early Wednesday and headed toward the central and southern Plains and Great Lakes, forecaster Scott Tansey said.

A blizzard warning covered western South Dakota, where blowing snow cut visibility to near zero.

24 Below Zero

Record lows recorded Wednesday included 17 degrees below zero at Havre, Mont.; 9 below at Casper, Wyo., and 11 below at Billings, Mont. Lewistown, Mont., was the official coldest spot in the 48 contiguous states at 24 below zero.

Great Lakes travelers were warned of gale-force winds, and a winter storm watch was posted for Wednesday night and today over northeastern Ohio.

Snow fell in the northern Mississippi Valley and the northern and central Plains and Rockies, with up to eight inches expected in Colorado.

Wyoming reopened long sections of major highways that were closed overnight by blowing, drifting snow, but roads elsewhere turned slippery as the leading edge of the cold air triggered snow flurries.

The weather caused many fender-benders. In Massachusetts, police blamed the icy conditions for a 12-vehicle accident Wednesday morning in Somerville and said some bridges and roadways were closed.

Wrecks Kill Three

Three people were killed in traffic accidents in Kansas City, Andalusia, Ill., and Omaha.

Upper Michigan, the peninsula separating lakes Superior and Michigan, got up to 10 inches of wind-driven snow Wednesday, for a total of 18 on the ground, and two counties closed schools.

Temperatures plummeted in Oklahoma, with northerly wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. making it feel like near zero.