Record 'big freeze' to hit America

A 'polar vortex' is expected to send cold air from the North Pole down to America and could reach as far south as the Gulf Coast.

According to Tuscaloosa News, temperatures are likely to plummet to -25C in Fargo, North Dakota, -31C in International Falls, Minnesota and -15C in Indianapolis and Chicago.

Americans have been warned that exposed skin in those areas could get frostbitten within minutes.

Ryan Maue, a meteorologist for Weather Bell, told AP: "All the ingredients are there for a near-record or historic cold outbreak. If you're under 40 (years old), you've not seen this stuff before."

On Friday, around three inches of snow fell in New York.

The cold blast will sweep through parts of New England and parts of the central Midwest could also see up to a foot of snow and temperatures of -10C in the St. Louis area.

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