Brutal cold: Is this really unusual or just a bout of winter weather?

Arctic air is once again sweeping the nation east of the Rockies, hitting the East and mid-Atlantic states with frigid weather, with temperatures on average 20 to 30 degrees below normal throughout the region, according to the National Weather Service.

In Chicago, a wind-chill warning shut down hundreds of schools Monday, commuters have been hit with public transit delays, and about 400 flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport have been canceled, according to the Chicago Tribune.


Although this third round of Arctic chill this month may seem odd, it’s actually not unusual compared with past years. It probably will not go down as one of the 10 coolest Januaries on record.

The frigid systems that have swept through the region have been transient and there have been some breaks. While there have been some days of bitter cold, they are brief and haven’t lasted all month. So, while there have been days with below-average normal temperatures, the average monthly temperatures are not that unusual.

Why is it so cold now? A cold air system is moving from central Canada into the Central Plains and currently impacting the Northeast, mid-Atlantic states and the upper Midwest, including Louisiana and Texas.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-ff-brutal-cold-weather-winter-storm-20140127,0,5994574.story#axzz2saBhztop