Northeast and Chill: Record Cold for V-Day

Much of the northeastern United States found itself in the not-so-warm embrace of teeth-chattering, record-shattering cold on Valentine's Day. Cities throughout the northeast saw record low temperatures on Sunday including New York; Boston; Providence, RI; and Hartford, Conn. The National Weather Service said the temperature in New York City's Central Park fell to minus-1, a record low for the date. The last time it got below zero in Central Park was in January 1994. "I'm dumb enough to do this," exclaimed John Male before starting a 12-mile park run Sunday morning. "I just always come out and I just decided not to do anything differently"—except to wear a furry tiger hat over his winter hat, in addition to four layers of clothing.

Boston reached minus-9, breaking the record set in 1934 by 6 degrees. It reached minus-16 in Worcester, Mass., breaking the 1979 record of 11 below zero. Providence hit minus-9 and Hartford minus-12, also breaking records from 1979. In Montpelier, Vermont, the overnight temperature hit minus-19, tying a 2003 record. Temps were expected to climb before a winter storm moves into the region, bringing at least a couple inches of snow in some areas, plus possible icy conditions to the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast on Monday. Weather service meteorologist Jay Engel said New York City will emerge from the record-breaking cold by Sunday afternoon. But whoever ventured out between Saturday evening and Sunday morning was hit by wind gusts that reached 40mph, bringing the wind chill to at least minus-20. (More severe weather stories.)