Zoo penguins were taken inside, sharks have washed up dead and records have been set.

North America is in the grips of a cold spell that has delivered frigid temperatures that haven’t been seen in years in some places.

The cold weather, which has been blamed for a handful of deaths, is expected to continue at least into the weekend, with temperatures most likely remaining below average and possibly setting records, according to Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Md.