Frigid Temperatures Grip Northeast as Records Tumble

Extreme cold and heavy snow disrupt daily life across the region

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Much of the eastern United States has experienced an intense Arctic blast since mid-January, with the Northeast bearing the brunt of the extreme cold. Record low temperatures were set in several cities, including New York City, DuBois, Pennsylvania, and Watertown, New York, where the mercury plunged to a bone-chilling minus 34 degrees. The persistent low temperatures, combined with heavy snowfall from recent storms, have created challenging conditions for residents across the region.

Why it matters

The prolonged polar plunge has disrupted daily life and operations in the Northeast, with schools, businesses, and transportation systems impacted by the extreme weather. The combination of record-breaking cold and heavy snow cover has raised concerns about public safety, energy usage, and the ability of communities to effectively respond to the challenging conditions.

The details

The Arctic blast brought a record low of 6 degrees to New York City's Kennedy Airport on Saturday, breaking the previous record of 7 degrees set in 1993. DuBois, Pennsylvania, also set a new record low of minus 3 degrees on Saturday. The coldest temperature in the country on Sunday was recorded in Watertown, New York, where the mercury dipped to minus 34 degrees, just five miles east of Lake Ontario and 30 miles south of the Canadian border. The extreme cold has been driven by repeated surges of Arctic air, and the existing snow cover has further contributed to the persistent low temperatures by reflecting sunlight and allowing the air near the surface to cool quickly. Wind chills have also been a major concern, with values dipping as low as minus 30 degrees in parts of New England on Saturday.

  • On Saturday, a record low of 6 degrees was set at New York City's Kennedy Airport, breaking the previous record of 7 degrees set in 1993.
  • On Saturday, a record low of minus 3 degrees was set in DuBois, Pennsylvania, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
  • On Sunday, the lowest temperature in the country was recorded at minus 34 degrees in Watertown, New York, five miles east of Lake Ontario and 30 miles south of the Canadian border.

The players

Andrew Orrison

A meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center who said the extreme conditions were driven by repeated surges of Arctic air.

Sarah Compo Pierce

The mayor of Watertown, New York, a city of 24,000 residents in the state's North Country region near the Canadian border, who said the community is accustomed to dealing with bone-chilling cold weather.

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What they’re saying

“That's impressively cold.”

— Andrew Orrison, Meteorologist (dnyuz.com)

“It is that type of cold that you walk outside and it takes your breath away.”

— Sarah Compo Pierce, Mayor of Watertown, New York (dnyuz.com)

What’s next

Temperatures are expected to gradually improve as the new week begins, with the extreme cold likely to be the last of its kind for the Northeast in the near future.

The takeaway

The prolonged polar plunge in the Northeast has highlighted the region's resilience in the face of extreme weather, as communities work to maintain operations and ensure public safety during the bone-chilling conditions. The event also underscores the need for continued preparedness and adaptation strategies to address the challenges posed by increasingly volatile weather patterns.