Arctic Blast Brings Historic Cold Across US

— -- Much of the country faces a deep freeze this morning, with historic cold reported across the eastern United States and Midwest.

At this point 27 states are under wind chill advisories or warnings. Some of the coldest weather in decades stretches from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.

In Chicago, the temperature dipped below zero overnight, with a wind-chill between minus-20 and minus-30.

Sections of the south are also facing cold temperatures, with an overnight wind-chill in the single digits for Atlanta. In Kentucky, overnight temperatures dipped below zero, with wind chills of minus-20 and minus-15 reported.

The low temperatures have frozen and refrozen snow and ice, making roadways hazardous because of black ice.

The bitter cold is expected to linger through Friday before more moderate February temperatures return.