The United States has been struck by a bitter winter blast spreading rapidly across the country. Thursday, January 8, brought below-freezing temperatures to many regions of the US.

MOSCOW, January 8 (Sputnik), Ekaterina Blinova - The United States has been struck by bitter winter blast spreading rapidly across the country.

"Temperatures will be 20 to 25 degrees below average from the Tennessee Valley to the Mid-Atlantic. Heavy lake effect snow will develop downwind from the Great Lakes.

Cold high pressure over the Southern Plains to the Tennessee Valley will move eastward off the Southeast Coast by Friday morning. A second cold high pressure center over West-Central Canada will move southeastward to the Central/Southern Plains by Friday evening," the National Weather Service forecast reads on January, 8.

According to the National Weather Service up to 87.2 percent of the country will have faced temperatures below zero by Thursday morning, January 8. Thursday has actually brought the coldest air temperatures to many regions of the United States.

"About 190 US flights canceled, another 130 delayed early Thursday," AccuWeather reported, citing FlightStats.com online resource.

#Coldest morning of the season so far for many, team coverage continues on @AMHQ! Tweet us how you are staying warm! pic.twitter.com/aXGGtDdBbH — The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) 8 января 2015

Many areas in the Eastern US will have their coldest day of the winter so far on Thursday: http://t.co/aX17X0fDCR — AccuWeather.com (@breakingweather) 8 января 2015

MT @fox5kaitlyn: FROZEN FOUNTAIN so... We know it's at least 32 degrees. My temp gauge says 14! pic.twitter.com/GiPojFXV0g — AccuWeather.com (@breakingweather) 8 января 2015

About 190 US flights canceled, another 130 delayed early Thursday, FlightStats reports: http://t.co/SoM4k18L4C — AccuWeather.com (@breakingweather) 8 января 2015

USA Today notes that severe storms resulted in three-to-six inches snowfalls on Tuesday in the Midwest and East. On Wednesday, sub-freezing temperatures nearly hit a record in many parts of the country accompanied by 30-mhp (miles per hour) winds. The blast of arctic air prompted many schools to close from Southeast to the Midwest, according to the Associated Press.

Chicago closed its schools on Wednesday and extended the pattern on Thursday.

"Frostbite can occur in a matter of minutes on exposed skin. Extended exposure without proper clothing will increase the risk of hypothermia," Chicago weather service warned its citizens, as cited by USA Today.

"If you must venture outdoors, make sure you wear a hat and gloves," said the local warning in New York, the city that has faced minus 15 F temperatures.

In Boston, the severe winter chill is likely to hit minus 20 F, according to the media outlet.

"At 6 am ET, it felt like 2 degrees below zero in Birmingham, Alabama, and zero in Atlanta. It felt like 7 below in Roanoke, Virginia, and just below freezing in Orlando, Florida. The wind chills in the Midwest and Northeast were downright brutal – 25 below in Madison, Wisconsin, and 36 below in Caribou, Maine," NBC News pointed out.

Ocean-effect narrow cloud bands as frigid arctic air moves off off the East Coast this morning. #ArcticBlast #WxGeeks pic.twitter.com/83BDDN84kl — The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) 8 января 2015