Record-Breaking Cold Spell Hits Northeast US, Mount Washington Observatory Records Temperature of -47°F and Wind Chill of -108°F

A record-breaking cold spell has descended upon the Northeast United States, with the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire recording an actual temperature of minus 47 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 44 Celsius), tying an observatory record set in 1934.

The Arctic air brought dangerously cold sub-zero temperatures and wind chills to the region, including a record-setting wind chill of minus 108 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 78 Celsius) on the summit of Mount Washington. This record was set on Friday night when the temperature was minus 46° F and wind gusts of 127 mph.

This new record is believed to beat the US record of minus 105° F in Alaska, although wind chill records are not historically tracked as closely as temperature records. The prior record for Mount Washington was minus 102.7° F in 2004.

The cold spell began to ease its grip on the Northeast on Saturday, with temperatures in South Portland, Maine, reaching about minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The area was surrounded by arctic sea smoke and emissions from the Wyman Power plant were blown horizontal by the fierce wind.

Residents of the Northeast are advised to stay indoors and bundle up if they must go outside. The extreme weather conditions are expected to ease up in the coming days.