UNITED STATES – The polar vortex has sent temperatures plunging and set hundreds of daily record lows and at least three all-time record lows this week. 

According to the National Weather Service, an eddy of the polar vortex is leading to the coldest weather that has hit the eastern half of the country.

The Weather Channel is reporting the Lynchburg, Virginia plummeted to 11 below zero this morning for an all-time record low. Flint, Michigan and Erie, Pennsylvania both tied their record lows of 25 below zero and 18 below zero, respectively.

Record lows for the day were also set in at least 72 cities, including New York, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Miami.

NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center is reporting that from Sunday through Wednesday of this week, 453 record lows were tied or broken. That number is expected to increase exponentially when the data for yesterday and today are published.

The south was not exempt from the cold. Florida saw record lows for the date in Miami (42, tie), Fort Lauderdale (40, tie), West Palm Beach (38), Naples (36), Fort Myers (35), Orlando (33, tie) and Jacksonville (24). Parts of the Florida Panhandle dipped down to 19 degrees this morning. As we previously reported, Florida growers were concerned about the incoming cold front's duration and possible effect on crops.

According to NBC News, this latest winter system has killed at least 15 people, including 11 in Tennessee, where more than half of the deaths were because of hypothermia.

Unfortunately, the next winter storm is already on its way. The Weather Channel reports that 27 million people are under winter storm advisories, watches or warnings.

Sleet and freezing rain is being forecasted for Friday night in Arkansas, then to Tennessee and Kentucky on Saturday, and to Virginia and West Virginia late Saturday night.

As for snow, the system is expected to drop 3 to 6 inches across Pennsylvania, New York and New England, and parts of West Virginia and Virginia could get a foot or more.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track these record-breaking winter systems.