0:36
The middle of the month saw a major Arctic air outbreak in much of U.S., leading to frigid temperatures and several snowstorms. A blocking pattern in the jet stream prolonged the outbreak.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/snow-1-gty-er-210218_1613672568288_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Six states -- Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma -- had one of their 10 coldest Februarys ever recorded, NOAA said. Texas and Illinois each had their 11th coldest.
*** Update to include new record low at Houston *** pic.twitter.com/Hzb4vwkxKD
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 15, 2021
According to the report, 62 all-time daily low temperature records were broken, with much of Texas enduring its coldest air temperatures since December 1989. Millions in Texas lost power and were without water for extended periods.
\"This,\" Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told Houston ABC station KTRK, \"is the winter version of Hurricane Harvey.\"
73% of the CONUS was covered in snow as of Midnight CST, February 16, modeled by @nwsnwc (NOHRSC). This is the greatest extent on record in the database, which dates back to 2003. pic.twitter.com/hSbWuxANh9
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 16, 2021
The major Arctic blast also caused a very active weather pattern that included numerous winter storms loaded with snow and ice. Nearly three-quarters of the lower 48 states were covered by snow on Feb. 16, a new daily record since that data first was recorded in October 2003.
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