Arctic Blasts Drop US Big Chill to -37

A large chunk of the US was in the deep freeze yesterday, with temperatures plunging below freezing to as low as -37 in Minnesota's hapless International Falls, the town's coldest day since 1911. Temperatures dove from the Plains, Midwest and Northeast to Florida, giving citrus growers the shivers. Jacksonville was 20 degrees colder than its average temperature this time of year. The cold snap is one of the nation's most widespread since 1985, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The current Big Chill is expected to continue for at least two more days with plunging numbers likely later this month. Gas producers and investors are among the few happy about the frigid temperatures. Natural-gas futures rose 5.6% yesterday as it became apparent the cold snap would lead to higher heating demands in homes and industrial buildings for several days. (More cold stories.)