Brutal Arctic Cold Grips Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia as Wind Chills Drop Near Zero and Power Outages Linger

UNITED STATES — A dangerous blast of Arctic air continues to grip large parts of the Central and Eastern United States, with Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and surrounding states experiencing some of the coldest conditions of the season. Wind chills are hovering near 0°F to -10°F overnight, keeping extreme cold warnings active even as high wind warnings begin to expire.

Meteorologists say the cold air mass has taken an unusual and narrow path, concentrating the harshest temperatures along the I-95 corridor from Pennsylvania through New Jersey and into southern New England, while pushing deep chill farther south into the Southeast.

Wind Chills Near Zero Continue Overnight

Despite winds gradually easing later this evening, cold remains the dominant threat across much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

• Wind chills: Near 0°F to -10°F overnight
• Extreme Cold Warning: Remains in effect until 10 a.m. Sunday
• Cold exposure risk: Frostbite possible in as little as 30 minutes

The most intense cold has settled over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and northern Virginia, where temperatures have dropped well below seasonal averages and remain slow to recover.

Unusual Cold Pocket Along I-95 Corridor

A particularly notable feature of this event is the localized cold maximum along the Philadelphia–New York City–New Haven stretch of I-95.

Meteorologists point out that:

• This corridor is currently the coldest segment along the entire I-95 route
• The setup is rare during winter, typically seen only with back-door cold fronts or very localized precipitation events
• The narrow width of the cold air mass has intensified the chill over a relatively small but heavily populated area

This explains why many urban areas are reporting colder conditions than locations both north and south of them.

Central and Eastern U.S. Running 10–20 Degrees Below Normal

Temperature anomaly data from early February shows:

• Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee: 10–15°F below normal
• Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York: 15–20°F below normal in spots
• Georgia and the Deep South: Unusually cold conditions pushing farther south than typical

Meanwhile, parts of the Western United States have remained above average, creating a sharp east-west temperature contrast across the country.

Power Outages Remain Limited but Persistent

While widespread infrastructure failure has been avoided, several thousand customers remain without power across parts of the Mid-Atlantic.

Reported outages include:

• Maryland (Baltimore Gas & Electric): ~6,300 customers
• Virginia (Dominion Energy): ~5,600 customers
• Pennsylvania & New Jersey utilities: Several thousand combined

Officials warn that even short outages can become dangerous under prolonged cold, especially for homes without alternative heating sources.

Georgia Snow Signal Appears — But Confidence Remains Low

Long-range European (ECMWF) model guidance has drawn attention after one operational run showed snow potential in Georgia beyond the 7-day forecast window.

However:

• Only 2 out of 50 ensemble members support a similar outcome
• That equals roughly 4% probability
• Forecasters emphasize this is an anomaly, not a trend

At this time, meteorologists are urging caution and patience before drawing conclusions, noting that consistency across multiple model runs is required before confidence increases.

Cold Persists as Primary Hazard

Even as winds weaken and some alerts expire, cold temperatures remain the dominant and ongoing threat across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast.

Residents are urged to:

• Limit outdoor exposure overnight
• Check on vulnerable neighbors and pets
• Use space heaters safely
• Monitor local utility and emergency updates

Winter has made its presence unmistakably clear across much of the country — and relief will be slow to arrive.

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