The Arctic blast highlights the contrasting weather extremes gripping the country as wildfires burn up California and freezing winds in the Northeast.

A powerful Arctic blast is bringing life-threatening cold to the Midwest and Northeast, while a rare winter storm blankets the Gulf Coast.

These temperatures are undoubtedly going to be the coldest of winter so far and, in many cases, the coldest in years. Combined with a brutal wind chill, it will only add to the extreme danger ...