Raindrops Not 'Teardrop' Shaped And More You Didn't Know

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A brutal blast of bitterly cold arctic air engulfed the central states and spread further south and east to end the week. As the cold hung on, we saw additional daily record temperatures set from the Plains to the Gulf Coast on Friday.

Some of that cold air spilled into parts of the East and as far south as Florida.

H​ere's a look at what temperatures feel like right now:

C​old weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service stretch from the Plains to the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur in areas in those alerts in less than 30 minutes.

Daily records​ for coldest lows started breaking on Sunday morning for cities like Baker, Montana, which measured a low of 22 degrees below zero, smashing the previous daily record of 13 degrees below zero set in 2006.

B​ismarck, North Dakota, plunged to 39 degrees below zero Tuesday, their coldest temperature since Jan. 15, 2009 and only 6 degrees shy of their all-time record low. The coldest temperature so far in the outbreak was 45 degrees below zero at Antelope Creek, North Dakota, on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Hettinger, North Dakota also recorded a low of 45 degrees below zero on Wednesday, as the extreme cold stays in place.

E​ven cities in the Deep South experienced this deep freeze. On Wednesday, Austin, Texas set a record low at 29 degrees. Wichita Falls, Texas, broke a record for the coldest high temperature at 24 degrees.

The record-breaking parade continued on Thursday across the Plains and South. Valentine, Nebraska, set a new daily record low of 33 degrees below zero, shattering the previous record of 22 degrees below zero set in 1918 and a new daily record low was set in Kansas City of 10 degrees below zero.

O​klahoma City set both a new daily record low and daily record cold high on Thursday with 4 degrees and 22 degrees, respectively. San Antonio, Texas, set a daily record low of 21 degrees (which broke the record of 26 degrees set in the brutal cold outbreak in 2021), as well as a record cold high of 37 degrees. The cold stretched east as well with M​emphis, Tennessee, setting a new daily record cold high of 23 degrees.

(​MAPS: 10-Day US Forecast Highs, Lows)

According to the National Weather Service, over 200 daily cold records - both for cold lows and cold daytime highs - were expected from Wednesday through Friday from the Plains to the northern Gulf Coast.

Wind chills in the Northern Plains plunged as low as minus 61 degrees at Crosby, North Dakota, Monday. Wind chills that low can cause frostbite to set in in as little as 5 minutes, and hypothermia is a very real threat as well.

(​MORE: How To Prevent Hypothermia)

D​o's and Don'ts Of Extreme Cold:

DON’T:

-Drink alcohol or smoke, as these activities can make your body more sensitive to acute cold.

-Underestimate high winds and the impact they can have on “feels like” temperatures.

-Put on any clothing that’s wet or stay in wet clothing longer than you have to.

-Wear clothes that are too tight and can hurt your circulation.

-Leave your mittens at home: mittens provide better protection than gloves when it comes to cold weather!

-Forget to keep a warm blanket and spare clothes in your car if you’re hitting the road.

(​MORE: Essential Tips To Stay Safe In Winter Storms)

DO:

-Stay hydrated, fed and rested. Food high in carbohydrates can be extra helpful, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

-Opt for outer layers that are water and wind-proof, and inner layers that will stay warm all day long.

-Double up on socks and make sure your shoes won’t let in moisture.

-Prioritize protecting your head, ears and neck, since they're prone to more heat loss.

Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.