Thursday's forecast: Eastern chill, western warmth
Fierce cold will invade the eastern U.S. while near-record warmth continues in the West.
Eastern U.S.: A blast of Arctic air will hammer into the central and eastern U.S. on Thursday, accompanied by howling winds and some light snow around the Great Lakes and Northeast. The Southeast will enjoy one more mild day before the bitter cold slams in on Friday.
West: A sprawling area of high pressure will bring clear skies and unusual warmth to most of the western U.S. Strong Santa Ana winds could cause problems in southern California. Showers are possible in western Washington.
Weather history for Feb. 12. In 1899, the temperature dropped to -47 degrees in Camp Clarke, Nebraska, the state's all-time coldest reading. In 1960, over a foot of snow fell in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
In 2006, more than two feet of snow fell in New York City.