Thousands of schools across the eastern and southern United States were closed Tuesday as a bitter cold front moved into the area after freezing the midwestern section of the country.
Forecasters say temperatures will plunge well below minus 10 degrees Celsius in Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia and Boston, while the wind chill, which is the temperature feels like during a strong wind, will be far lower.
The frigid weather is also reaching into the so-called Deep South, including Florida and southern Texas, which usually enjoy moderate temperatures during the cold weather season.
Authorities have decided to close schools to keep children safe from exposure to the extreme cold, which could lead to frostbite within minutes if skin is left exposed.