EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:

Bitterly cold temperatures are gripping a wide portion of the United States following a winter storm that dumped snow and ice from the Southwest to the Northeast. This brutally frigid weather may feel unprecedented, but an AP review of weather data shows it's not.

While a few sites around the nation have seen low-temperature records broken during January, in most places, the cold is not exceptional when taking the long view. Data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center shows among more than 400 continental U.S. weather stations that have been recording temperatures for at least a century, only 33 saw a number of sub-zero days since Jan. 1 that would rank in the coldest 10% in their history. None set a record.

Researchers and climatologists say as climate change warms the planet, we are experiencing fewer extreme low temperatures. On average, looking at more than 240 weather stations in the continental United States, there are 13 fewer sub-freezing days a year now than in 1970, according to data from the nonprofit Climate Central.

This guide provides data on how many cold-weather days there have been in since Jan. 1 around the U.S.

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READ AP'S STORY

How climate change and human psychology make this US cold snap feel so harsh

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FIND YOUR CITY OR STATE: 2026 COLD RANKINGS

View data for each weather station in AP’s spreadsheet.

The figures in the spreadsheet, which come from the Southeast Regional Climate Center, represent the count of days between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1 that have fallen below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (the first tab) and 20 degrees Fahrenheit (the second tab). Only weather stations in the continental United States that have been reporting for 100 or more years are shown.

If you see no stations for your state, that means there are no places that have been reporting for long enough and had at least one day with lows that fell below the threshold. (To add a temporary filter and sort the spreadsheet by state, first make sure you are signed in to a Google account, then select the state column, click “data” in the horizontal menu, and select “sort sheet.”)

The percentile figure tells you how this year's count of days compares to the station's overall history. Higher percentiles mean conditions have been colder since Jan. 1 than past years at that station. Lower percentiles mean it was milder by historical standards.

We recommend paying more attention to the 0-degree threshold if you live in colder region, and the 20-degree threshold if you live in a warmer region.

Example of what it can help you say:

— In Minneapolis, there have been 14 sub-zero days since Jan. 1. But that number ranks only 64th in the weather station's 155-year history.

— In Detroit, 88% of the last 152 years have had more sub-zero days in the first 32 days of the year.

— Birmingham, Alabama has seen four days this year with temperatures falling below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. But in the weather station's roughly 130-year history, that number of cold days ranks only 37th.

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CONSIDER THESE REPORTING THREADS

— Talk with longstanding members of your community to learn whether they feel this cold snap stands out compared to the past.

— The effects of climate change vary by region. Talk with a local meteorologist or climate scientist about the nuances of how cold events in your area are changing as winters warm.

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Localize It is a resource produced regularly by The Associated Press for its customers’ use. Questions can be directed to the Local News Success team at localizeit@ap.org. View guides published in the last 30 days here.