Arctic Outbreak Comes Early for Huge Portion of U.S... Winter's Right Around the Corner

And the trend is continuing. Before we had even reached the mid-point of this November, much of the country was socked by what the National Weather Service called "an arctic outbreak."

How bad was it? More than 300 records for cold weather and snow were tied or broken. It happened in the Plains, the Midwest, the East Coast and even the South and Southeast.

One newspaper called it "the most severe early November cold snap in more than a century." What's going on?

And there were still five weeks of fall remaining! Many Americans had not yet had time to rake all their leaves when snow fell on them. And stayed on them, due to lingering cold temperatures.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that 30 percent of the continental U.S. was covered by snow. And more than 75 percent of the lower 48 states were enduring freezing temperatures.

A spokesperson for the National Weather Service said it felt like "the middle of winter" in various areas. Including the Ohio Valley, East Coast and even the upper Texas coast.

Temperatures in the Lone Star State dropped 40 degrees in a 24-hour period. The existing warm air to the south was no match for the arctic blast. In central Alabama, the temperature fell to 13 degrees.

Buffalo, New York received nearly a foot of snow. Empire, Michigan got 30 inches. And Bangor, Maine had more than two feet of the white stuff.

They even had snow in Hebbronville, Texas. That's 60 miles from the Mexico border. And in Pensacola, Florida, the temperature dropped to 29 degrees. That was 42 degrees colder than the Gulf of Mexico water temperature.

We normally don't hear about a polar vortex until well into the winter. It's a large, cold air mass high in the atmosphere that normally spins over the North Pole in winter.

But this one came early. Meteorologist Ryan Maue tweeted, "Of course, this arctic blast is related to the polar vortex."

At higher elevations, the deep freeze was felt even more. As far south as the Mid-Atlantic, temperatures were in the single digits in the Appalachian Mountains.

At ski areas in West Virginia, temps fell to near zero. It was minus-17 degrees at Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

Heading back to lower elevations, Nashville, Tennessee set a record low of 17 degrees on November 13.

That same day, the low in New York City was a record 23 degrees. It marked the third low temperature record of the week.

The historic arctic air mass is said to have affected some 200 million people. Temperatures dipped into the single digits in many areas.

Thousands of flights were canceled. And an American Eagle plane slid off an O'Hare runway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from that event.

But at least four deaths were attributed to the cold and snow. All died in vehicle crashes.

Those accidents occurred in Kansas and Michigan. One of the fatalities was an 8-year-old girl.

The first 11 days of November were among the coldest on record in a number of cities. Including Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Not to mention Little Rock, Arkansas.

Many people are hoping that a cold November will not translate into an exceptionally cold winter.

But Dr. Brian Brettschneider is unable to give us any assurances. He's a climatologist at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

He's says that a colder than average November usually translates into colder than average temperatures for December though February. At least in some areas, including the Midwest and East Coast.

For you history buffs, the recent bitter cold arctic blast is being compared to something that occurred more than 100 years ago.

It was called the "Blue Norther' of 1911." In some areas of the country, temperatures plummeted from about 80 degrees to the 20s in the same day.

Among those who struggled with the recent frigid temperatures were firefighters. Those battling a house fire in New Albany, Indiana found themselves standing on ice.

Water from their hoses was freezing on the ground around them. One firefighter was taken to a hospital after slipping and falling. Even the fire department's air packs and radios were freezing.

We're used to cold spells in the late fall, throughout the winter and even in the early spring. But this early in the year?

Even just last month, the United States saw its first named storm of the season: Winter Storm Aubrey. The snowstorm caused significant travel disruptions, tree damage, and sporadic power outages in the places most affected.

Coupled with last week's arctic blast, this winter doesn't seem to be getting any better.

The key is to be prepared with back-up power, food, plenty of clean drinking water, and flashlights and batteries.

Those who take care of themselves and their families don't have to worry about whether FEMA will be able to help them.