Record-breaking cold grips all 50 states in Wednesday morning freeze

All 50 states in the U.S. reported freezing temperatures on Wednesday morning, with some areas experiencing record-breaking lows. Over 200 million Americans felt below-average temperatures, with a significant lake-effect snowstorm hitting the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northeast. Strong winds caused wind chills in the teens and even toppled the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. Several cities, including Danville, Virginia, and Jackson, Kentucky, broke record lows, while others like Charlotte, North Carolina, came close. Similar cold temperatures are expected on Thursday, with Chicago, Cincinnati, and New York City being below freezing, and Raleigh, North Carolina, experiencing a forecasted morning low of 26.