US in deep freeze: In 10 minutes you could be dead without proper clothes

Dangerously cold polar air snapped decades-old records as it spread on Tuesday from the Midwest to southern and eastern US and eastern Canada, making it hazardous to venture outside. The US is facing coldest temperatures in two decades.

WIND CHILLS OF -40 C

Monday's bitterly cold temperatures broke records. In Chicago, it set a record for the date at -27 Celsius. At Fort Wayne, Indiana, the mercury fell to -25 C. Wind chills across the region were -40C. Officials in states like Indiana urged residents to stay home. The lowest temperature of the day was -40 in Brimson, Minnesota.

HIGH OF -17C

"The cold is the real killer here," Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said as he asked schools and businesses to remain closed another day. "In 10 minutes you could be dead without the proper clothes." The polar air will invade the East and South on Tuesday, bringing with it the prospect of more records falling. Highs of -17 C to -13 C were expected in Georgia and Alabama. Wind chill warnings stretched as far south as Florida, with forecasts of -23 C in Atlanta and -24 C in Baltimore.

NO POWER

More than 30,000 people in Indiana were without power late Monday night.

FLIGHTS CANCELLED

More than 4,300 US flights were cancelled Monday and more than 6,500 were delayed. JetBlue planned to resume some flights Tuesday.

IN CANADA

Large parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba were in a deep freeze Monday with temperatures near or below -30 C and wind chills colder than -40 C.

WILL GET WARMER

Warmer temperatures - at least, near or above freezing - are in store for the Midwest. Indianapolis should reach -3 C on Wednesday, and other parts of the central US could climb above freezing later in the week.