New Yorkers warned by Mayor to 'take every precaution' to combat temperatures of ZERO degrees as country is gripped by 'dangerously cold' blast

• New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has warned residents to be prepared as freezing conditions worsen
• A bitterly cold arctic blast kept temperatures around 20 degrees colder than normal as far south as Texas and east to Pennsylvania
• Temperatures as low as -30F were expected in the northern reaches of the Plains states on Tuesday evening
• The biting cold was expected to linger in the Midwest and Northeast through the end of the first full work week of 2015
• Nearly 1,000 flights had been delayed by Tuesday evening with around 50 cancellations nationwide
• Lake effect snow was expected to dump over two feet of snow on some places in Upstate New York by week's end
• Even Hawaii has had a string of record low-temperature days. Monday's low of 57 degrees in Honolulu beat the 1893 record low of 58 degrees

By Associated Press and Josh Gardner for MailOnline

Published: 02:53 EST, 7 January 2015 | Updated: 03:16 EST, 7 January 2015

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has warned residents to wrap up against the frigid weather as a 'triple punch' of freezing temperatures, snow showers and winds of up to 45mph is set to strike the city.

Frigid air is blowing across the United States, dropping temperatures in many areas into the single digits and leading weather monitors to issue wind chill advisories and politicians to plead with residents to check on their neighbors.

A National Weather Service wind chill advisory for much of the Northeast for Wednesday into Thursday warns of 'dangerously cold air' with strong winds that could result in frostbite if people don't put on their scarves, hats and gloves.

In a statement via his office, de Blasio said: 'As frigid winter weather sets in, it's crucial New Yorkers take steps to protect themselves and look out for their neighbors. If you can avoid traveling on our roads and stay indoors, do so. If you must go outside, dress warmly and take extreme precaution.

'The City will deploy all tools at its disposal to reach our most vulnerable populations - the elderly, people with medical challenges, the homeless - but we ask our fellow New Yorkers to help. If you see someone who looks like they may be at increased risk, report it immediately.'

The warning comes as an arctic cold front is set to hit New York state on Wednesday, bringing snow, winds and temperatures as low as zero degrees.

The front - which could be the coldest so far this season - will see wind chills as low as minus 30 degrees, making it feel far chillier than it is.

Chilly city: New York was caught off guard Tuesday by a liberal dusting of snow and temperatures that refused to budge past 35F

Headache: The snow wasn't enough to cancel school for New York City's students, but traffic and travel plans were snarled for millions across 22 states

According to de Blasio's statement, in New York city, the Department of Transportation has deployed anti-icing units to each of the East River bridges and is pre-treating pedestrian overpasses and step streets. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeless Services is working to protect vulnerable individuals.

For the duration of Wednesday - for which, a 'Code Blue' has been issued - homeless adults in the Big Apple will be able to access any shelter location for single individuals, while outreach workers will be patrolling the streets 24 hours a day.

Elsewhere in New York state, the National Weather Service has issued wind chill and lake effect snow advisories for Onondaga, Cayuga and Madison counties until Thursday morning, according to Syracuse.com. Residents may see wind chills as low as minus 30, with up to eight inches of new snow.

Niagara Falls in the north of the state on the border with Canada also betrayed the worsening conditions across the nation as the famed falls began to freeze over.

Picture perfect: A view of frozen, crystallized trees on the brink of Niagara Falls at Prospect Point as arctic conditions grip the Northeastern United States on January 06, 2015

Blast: Icy temperatures of up to minus eight degrees Celsius have turned the iconic Niagara Falls into a glistening crystalline wonderland after a cold snap swept across the north eastern United States plunging temperatures and transforming the landscape

Frozen: Ray Gruarin, of Niagara Falls, walks in the park in near sub zero conditions as arctic conditions grip the Northeastern United States

Iconic: Tourists shoot photos of a frozen landscape on Goat Island overlooking Niagara Falls as arctic conditions grip the Northeastern United States

In Connecticut, officials urged people in need of shelter to call the 211 hotline as the state braced for a frigid blast. A cold-weather protocol activated by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy directs state agencies to coordinate with the hotline and the network of shelters to make sure the state's most vulnerable residents are protected from the cold.

New Jersey is cleaning up from a snowfall that caused slick roads and numerous accidents.

Ohio residents who sighed with relief as snowfall that caused hazardous road conditions moved out of the state were warned to prepare for single-digit temperatures and wind chills below zero.

Early snowfall Tuesday led to slow morning commutes and numerous traffic accidents across the state. A Highway Patrol trooper was among four people injured when a woman lost control of her car on a slick highway in Clermont County and struck a police cruiser.

The forecast for Wednesday into Thursday calls for temperatures below zero for most of the state and wind chills possibly as low as 20 to 30 below zero.

Duke Energy said it's prepared for increased demand but advised customers to check supplies of flashlights, batteries, bottled water and medicines. Columbia Gas of Ohio warned customers not to use ovens or ranges to heat their homes.

The coldest weather in about a year is expected to reach deep into Georgia by early Thursday. In metro Atlanta, which was brought to a standstill last winter by a few inches of snow, wind chills below 5 degrees are expected, but no snow is forecast.

In north Alabama, gusty winds could make temperatures in the single digits feel as though it's below zero.

Brutal cold and dangerous wind chills moving into Illinois prompted dozens of school districts, including Chicago Public Schools, to cancel Wednesday classes.

More districts are expected to decide early in the morning whether to close, and communities around the state are opening warming shelters.

In Chicago, where thousands of children walk to schools outside their neighborhoods, the district is keeping its school buildings open in case some still show up. Libraries and park district buildings also will be open during normal hours.

Sheet ice: The frozen Chicago River leading to Lake Michigan is covered in ice as temperatures hover around 12 degrees F (-11 C) in Chicago

A National Weather Service wind chill advisory for much of the Northeast for Wednesday into Thursday warns of "dangerously cold air" with strong winds that could result in frostbite if people don't put on their scarves, hats and gloves

No rest: Wednesday was expected to bring no relief as the blast from the west reigns down on the Midwest and Northeast all week

Dangerously cold: Wednesday night won't be the week's worst, but temperatures still weren't expected to reach even zero in most of the upper Midwest

Only getting worse: Frigid air is blowing across the United States, dropping temperatures in many areas into the single digits and leading weather monitors to issue wind chill advisories and politicians to plead with residents to check on their neighbors.

Temperatures in northern Illinois were expected to fall to about 7 degrees below zero overnight, with wind chills of minus 25 or colder, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Bardou said.

He said people should stay indoors, if possible, and cover all exposed skin if they must go out because frostbite can occur within minutes in such extreme cold.

State police caution drivers to stock their vehicles with extra water, food and warm clothing.

Some schools in the Dakotas plan to start late or not hold classes at all on Wednesday because of expected wind chills that could drop to at least 40 below zero.

High temperatures across much of North Dakota and South Dakota are expected to stay below zero, and there's a wind chill warning in effect for much of both states through the morning.

Several eastern South Dakota districts, including Sioux Falls, have canceled classes.

Residents of the Dakotas dealt with another day of bone-chilling temperatures Tuesday as they dug out Tuesday from a record-setting winter storm.

A man crosses a street with his grocery cart during a snowfall in New York's borough of Queens on January 6, 2015 as extreme cold gripped Canada and northern parts of the US, prompting calls for residents to stay indoors amid increased risks of frostbite and hypothermia

Arnold King shovels his walkway Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, along Mt. Pleasant Street in Dubuque, Iowa. as the winter storm system moved through the Midwest which brought snow and cold temperatures to parts of Nebraska and Iowa

The Alberta clipper that passed through the two states Monday dropped from 2 to 5 inches of snow, shutting down schools, leading to numerous traffic crashes and setting weather records. The 5 inches of snow recorded in Sioux Falls broke the city's 63-year-old record for the date, 3.9 inches, the National Weather Service said.

Meanwhile, a entral and Southern California winter heat wave has set records with highs topping 80 degrees.

Santa Maria's airport on Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 82 degrees, 2 degrees above records for the day set in 1962 and 1918. Santa Barbara's airport also hit 82 degrees, well above the 78 recorded in 1964.

Highs in the low to mid-80s set or tied records in Camarillo, in Burbank and at UCLA.

In San Diego County, Escondido's 87 beat the 86 recorded in 1969, and Alpine topped a 1969 record with a high of 82.

Already on Tuesday, as the first snow of the year hit Washington D.C. there were some who were ready to tackle the icy cold head-on - especially a panda cub by the name of Bao Bao.

The 16-month-old bear was filmed on Tuesday as she somersaulted down the snowy slopes of her enclosure at the National Zoo.

Curled into a tight ball, she is seen using her legs to give her body extra momentum.

Temperatures in the nation's capital are currently wavering from zero to below freezing. Up to four inches of snowfall hit the area on Tuesday.

Along with tumbling down hills, Bao Bao, climbed trees and pounced on her mother Mei Xiang as the wintry weather hit.

Weeee: Curled into a tight ball, she is seen using her legs to give her body extra momentum

Playtime: As the first snow of the year hit Washington D.C. today there were some who were ready to tackle the icy cold head-on - especially a panda cub by the name of Bao Bao

Wintry wonders: Along with tumbling down hills, Bao Bao, climbed trees and pounced on her mother Mei Xiang (pictured here) as the wintry weather hit

Meanwhile, a winter surge from the Northwest has blanked a 2,000 mile swath of North America in snow and winter misery and, as a departing gift, the storm will leave behind a dangerous dip in temperature that could feel as low as -50F.

The potentially life-threatening wind chills are slated for Tuesday night and Wednesday morning over a large part of ten states in the Midwest, reports the Weather Channel.

The renewed polar blast is yet another punch in the face for millions across America this week. And the bitter cold is slated to continue at least until the weekend.

Whoops! A mallard duck attempts to walk on a frozen pond in Yukon, Oklahoma as a winter surge chilled nearly every part of America east of the Rockies this week

Cool bean: The Chicago skyline is reflected in the snow covered, curved surface of the Cloud Gate AKA the Bean sculpture in Chicago on Tuesday as a bitter cold snap is freezing most of the eastern half of the United States

Iowa: Arnold King shovels his walkway while his dog Max plays on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, along Mt. Pleasant Street in Dubuque, Iowa

Sigh: Snow blankets downtown St. Joseph, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, after a winter storm dumped several inches of snow in Southwest Michigan

Loving this: Sixteen-month-old Giant panda cub Bao Bao plays in the snow with her mother Mei Xiang at the Smithsonian's National Zoo as a winter storm hits Washington

William Bittner tries out his new snowblower as he clears the driveway of his home along Michigan Avenue in St. Joseph, Michigan on Tuesday

A man walks on a snow-covered sidewalk, Tuesday in Baltimore. The National Weather Service says snowfall totals could reach 4 to 6 inches in the Washington suburbs and 3 to 5 in the Maryland mountains

The deep freeze unfolding across the Midwest and Northeast since late Sunday once again brought an unbearable morning commute Tuesday as another round of sub-zero temperatures, relentless wind chills and snow impacted some 240 million.

Residents of Washington, DC awoke to the first dusting of snow of the year just as the new Republican-controlled Congress showed up to be sworn in on Capitol Hill.

Temperatures in the nation's capital were expected to be just above 36F. However, to the north and west, temperatures were expected to be far more punishing through the end of the week with some residents in the northernmost Midwest not anticipating anything above zero until the weekend.

One-two punch: A woman walks down a snowy sidewalk on January 6, 2015 in New York City as the area was hit by its first major snowstorm of the winter season

Children walk in a line through snowfall as they enter P.S. 85, Tuesday in the Bronx

New York City shivered as the mercury failed to rise past 25F by noon. Before the week of frigid misery ends, forecasters predicted New York would see temperatures as low as 7F.

The city expected around an inch of the white stuff was expected by day's end

According to Good Morning America's Ginger Zee, lake effect snow was expected to reach as high as 28 inches by week's end in Fulton, New York.

The heaviest snow will be confined to the Great Lakes region, but residents of New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC got their share.

Indiana: A jack-knifed semitrailer sits in the median near the 260-mile marker on Interstate 69 in Grant County, Indiana on Tuesday as a band of miserable winter weather whipped across 22 states Tuesday

First of the year: A Bronx, New York pedestrian is dusted in snow Tuesday

Snowy start: People walk toward the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday as snow falls on the start of the 114th Congress in Washington

No parking: Clearing a path for the new Congress, employees of the Architect of the Capitol use tractors to remove snow from in front of the U.S. House of Representatives as more snow continues to fall

According to Accuweather.cm, the cold storm was part of a fast-moving clipper system. These often nasty systems originate in Canada before getting swept into the jet stream and left to blast through half the U.S.

The system was expected to dump more than a foot of snow in other places as it barreled east, with a separate blast of arctic air right on its heels.

The first blast brought the coldest temperatures yet this season, reports Weather.com.

Snow-blasted Northern Virginia, and the Washington Beltway region in general saw schools delayed and traffic snarled.

New congress: Pedestrians trudge toward the Capitol as the newly GOP-controlled congress was sworn in Tuesday

Cold day for Mexico: A US honor guard waits in the snow before the arrival of President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto, at a snowy White House on Tuesday

'Bo. Snow. Rose Garden.': White House photographer Pete Souza's instagram image of the first dog Bo, the Obama's dog, in the Rose garden of the White House.

Snow days: The heaviest snowfalls will be confined to the Great Lakes region, where residents of Fulton, New York were expected to get as much as 28 inches of snow by Thursday. However, residents of New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC can expect to see flakes of their own as the week wears on

Snowy mourning: Governor Andrew Cuomo arrives to his father mario Cuomo's funeral at St. Ignatious Loyola Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City on Tuesday as snow falls

Family affair: Joshua Harber, left, and Laurel Harber shovel snow, Tuesday in Zionsville, Indiana as temperatures in central and northern Indiana were predicted to drop into the lower teens Tuesday and reach no higher than 5 degrees Wednesday

A woman walks past an empty bus stop as a light snow falls Tuesday in Baltimore

According to the Washington Post, some 600 snow trucks were out on Northern Virginia roads where dozens of weather-related accidents had been reported by mid-morning.

The Alberta clipper-like system that has already dumped snow in parts of the upper Plains and Midwest was expected to leave as much as 5 to 7 inches in the Chicago area early Tuesday, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jamie Enderlen.

As the storm moves east across the Ohio Valley and Northeast, most areas will see accumulation of between 2 to 5 inches, she said. But some locations will be hit with heavier snow bands, including lake-effect snow, and could see accumulations up to 15 inches.

The system is likely to weaken as it nears the East Coast, but a couple of inches are possible Tuesday in mid-Atlantic states, according to the Weather Service.

A worker clears the snow on the sidewalk outside the US Capitol Building

Traffic: A pedestrian holding an umbrella passes by cars and a bus stopped after police closed off a stretch of Wilson Boulevard due to icy conditions in Arlington, Virginia on Tuesday

Brisk: Mike Mindel scrapes snow off his car Tuesday in Zionsville, Indiana

Picturesque: The White House was looking picturesque on Tuesday morning after the season's first snow fall came amid a blast of frigid, blustery weather across the Midwest and Northeast

After the clipper, a high-pressure system over Canada is expected to move toward the Plains Wednesday and then slide east, bringing unusually frigid temperatures to the eastern two-thirds of the United States, Enderlen said.

Parts of Georgia could see low temperatures Wednesday in the teens, and northern Florida is expected to be at or below freezing. From the Dakotas, across the Midwest and into the Ohio Valley, temperatures are likely to be below zero.

Come Thursday, New York City will 'will be lucky if it hits 20' with lows near 10 degrees, according to Michael Musher with the Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.

Very White House: A Unites States Park Service employee clears snow from in front of the West Wing of the White House in Washington on Tuesday

Blasted: Temperatures hover around freezing in the nation's capital as an arctic blast swept through the Midwest and Northeast this week

Slippery commute: A light snow blankets the sidewalks in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington

Snarled traffic: Snow snagged roadways across the Midwest and East early Tuesday

Dangerous: Washington DC was hit hard Tuesday as traffic snarled all around the beltway. Northern Virginia reported they'd sent around 600 snow trucks out onto roadways where dozens of crashes had been reported

'It's a nasty morning,' Joan Morris with the Virginia Department of Transportation told the Washington Post. 'There are accidents, there are delays. It's probably a bit more snow than was expected. It's more than a nuisance snow.'

Crippled: School children are seen here crossing a northern Virginia street as buses crippled by snow roadways linger in the road

The Weather Service warns that snow-covered roads and reduced visibility will create poor travel conditions in many areas Tuesday, especially during the morning commute. Even after most snowfall has ended, increasing winds Tuesday could result in drifting snow.

At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Monday night, airlines were reporting delays of 30 minutes for incoming and outbound flights and had canceled more than 230 flights, according to the city's Aviation Department. At Midway International Airport, about three dozen flights were delayed an average of 45 minutes.

Mike Gillispie, a weather service meteorologist in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said local road conditions 'are going to be deteriorating very rapidly.

'If you don't have to be out and about, it's a good time to stay indoors,' he said.

PLAN AHEAD FOR THE COLD

Officials in the coldest areas are urging residents to bundle up to guard against hypothermia and exercise caution while driving.

In Detroit and across Illinois, warming centers have opened to provide temporary relief from the cold.

RELIEF IS IN SIGHT

Temperatures are expected to be lower than normal for days but could rise a bit by the end of the week.

'We have cold temperatures, but it's not like it never happened before,' said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center. 'It's typical for an Arctic outbreak.'

Charles Martinez looks over the partially frozen Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline on Monday. The cold snap that allowed for this picturesque scene was expected to bring multiple blasts of arctic air

THE LAKE EFFECT: HOW 30 INCHES OF SNOW IS EASILY MADE BY ONE STORM

The so-called lake effect has brought plenty of snow in the Great Lakes region already this week, with Fulton, New York expecting some 28 inches by week's end.

Lake effect snow can cause sudden and heavy snow storms - and it's usually worse earlier in the season.

Large bodies of water like the Great Lakes retain heat from the summer - meaning they can be much warmer than the air, especially during a cold snap.

When frigid winds blow across the warmer water, they pick up large amounts of water.

When those winds make landfall, the clouds - traveling across the cold land - release their haul of snow.

Because Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are wider, east winds can travel the entire length of the lakes, picking up water during their entire journey.

This is why western New York is known as the 'snowbelt,' often getting more than 100 inches of snow each year.

It also explains how feet of snow can so easily fall during one storm.