25 million under wind chill alerts as record-breaking cold temperatures hit Northeast

The coldest U.S. wind chill was recorded Saturday at minus 108 degrees.

ByEmily Shapiro, Max Golembo, Melissa Griffin, and Nadine El-Bawab
February 3, 2023, 2:21 PM

A dangerous and possibly record-shattering freeze is invading the northeastern U.S., leaving 25 million Americans under wind chill alerts.

The coldest wind chill in U.S. history was recorded Saturday morning in Mount Washington, New Hampshire, at minus 108 degrees.

The cold moved into the Northeast Friday morning, with a wind chill -- what the temperature feels like -- reaching minus 21 degrees in Maine, minus 22 degrees in Vermont and minus 7 degrees in Buffalo, New York. The worst of the cold arrived Saturday morning.

PHOTO: Visitors at Niagara Falls on Feb. 2, 2023.
Visitors at Niagara Falls on Feb. 2, 2023.
Lori Cappellazzo/Polaris
PHOTO: People bundled up walk in midtown Manhattan as bitter cold temperatures moved into much of the northeast United States in New York City, Feb. 3, 2023.
People bundled up walk in midtown Manhattan as bitter cold temperatures moved into much of the northeast United States in New York City, Feb. 3, 2023.
Mike Segar/Reuters

Boston recorded its lowest temperature Saturday, reaching minus 9 degrees, dropping below their previous record of minus 5 degrees set in 1881. Wind chills made it feel like minus 35 degrees in Boston.

Public schools in Boston were closed on Friday and sports are canceled through the weekend due to the extreme cold.

PHOTO: A pedestrian crosses the street on a cold winter morning in Boston, Feb. 3, 2023.
A pedestrian crosses the street on a cold winter morning in Boston, Feb. 3, 2023.
Brian Snyder/Reuters

Portland, Maine, shattered its all-time record lowest wind chill of minus 41 degrees, reaching minus 45 degrees Friday night. Frenchville, Maine, recorded a wind chill of minus 58 degrees Saturday morning.

PHOTO: Saturday morning is when the core of the cold reaches the Northeast.
Saturday morning is when the core of the cold reaches the Northeast.
ABC News

Northern Maine is under a blizzard warning as snow that is already on the ground will be blown around by the over 40-mile per hour winds.

But the bitter blast won’t last long. On Sunday and Monday, Boston is forecast to thaw to the mid-40s. New York City could reach 50 degrees by Monday.

Click here for tips on how to stay safe in the cold.

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