Arctic wind, frigid temperatures numb eastern US

Arctic air and frigid temperatures swooshed in Wednesday behind a snow storm that blanketed the eastern United States. Snow was forecast for Long Island, N.Y., and southern New England early Wednesday, creating poor driving conditions, while gusting winds would reduce visibility, AccuWeather.com reported. Winter storm warnings and watches were posted for all or part of 13 states as the governors of Delaware, New Jersey and New York issued states of emergency. A blizzard warning was in effect for Cape Cod, Mass., and surrounding areas. The storm that dumped up to 15 inches of snow in some eastern states before it moved into the Atlantic Ocean was followed by arctic air and temperatures in the single digits and teens. AccuWeather.com said the wind could make the temperature feel like minus 15 degrees. As of midmorning, 565 flights were delayed and 1,433 flights were canceled at U.S. airports, FlightAware.com said. In Washington, federal agencies were operating under a 2-hour delay and employees had the option of taking unscheduled leave or unscheduled teleworking, the Office of Personnel Management said. Federal offices were closed Tuesday. Daily snowfall records were set Tuesday from Maryland to New York, while up to 15 inches of the white stuff fell in parts of New Jersey, AccuWeather.com said. In Philadelphia, 13.5 inches fell, burying the record for the date of 3.4 inches from 1917. In New York City, 11 inches of snow was measured at Central Park, eclipsing the record for the date of 6 inches set in 2001. The National Weather Service reported 15.5 inches of snow fell in South Weymouth, Mass., and 4 inches of snow was on the ground in Norfolk, Va. In East Rutherford, N.J., site of Super Bowl XLVIII, 13 inches of snow fell as of Tuesday night, NWS said. A second frigid weather system moving down from Canada will plunge low temperatures into double-digit minus degrees along the border, CNN said. Whipping winds could send wind chills down to 20-to-40 degrees below zero F. from the North Central region south to northern Missouri.