Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – A rare and dangerous blast of Arctic air is stretching from Pennsylvania all the way into Florida, bringing life-threatening cold, subzero wind chills, and widespread freeze impacts across much of the eastern United States.
According to the National Weather Service, Extreme Cold Warnings remain in effect across central and western Pennsylvania through Sunday afternoon, where wind chills have dropped as low as 20 to 25 degrees below zero in higher elevations. Counties including Cambria, Somerset, and mountainous areas of the Alleghenies face the highest risk, with frostbite possible on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
Farther south, the cold air mass remains unusually strong. Across the Carolinas and Georgia, wind chills near or below zero are persisting into Sunday morning, while northern and central Florida are under Extreme Cold and Freeze Warnings. In parts of Florida, including inland sections of the Panhandle, north Florida, and central Florida, temperatures are falling into the teens and low 20s, threatening crops, outdoor plumbing, and sensitive vegetation. Wind chills in Florida have dropped into the single digits and teens, a rare and dangerous occurrence for the region.
Emergency officials across multiple states urge residents to remain indoors when possible, dress in layers, protect pets and plants, and take steps to prevent frozen pipes. Cold-related advisories and freeze warnings are expected to continue through Monday morning, with lingering impacts even after winds begin to ease.
