Boston and the rest of New England have been dealing with well below-average temperatures, in some cases falling 20 degrees, as an expansive mass of Arctic air spreads across the eastern half of the United States. This cold surge is making our region this week feel colder than Anchorage, Alaska, which is topping out at 36 degrees.

The coldest temperature ever recorded was Feb. 9, 1934, when it fell to 17 degrees below zero, according to National Weather Service records, which go back to 1904. More: How much snow did Rhode Island get? See snowfall totals for Providence, Newport, Warwick

Brace yourselves. What's likely to be the coldest weather of the season will roll into Southern New England early next week.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state emergency for all 21 counties in the Garden State. A winter storm warning was in effect for 10 counties in the northern part of the state, where 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) of snow is expected to fall from Sunday afternoon through the late evening.

A coastal storm system approaching New England Sunday afternoon is forecast to drop 3 to 6 inches of snow across the Boston area through early Monday, with higher accumulations of around 4 to 8 inches expected the farther inland you go. A few isolated areas, especially from Springfield to the Berkshires, could see nearly a foot stack up.

A storm bringing snow Sunday will be followed by an arctic outbreak dropping temperatures into the 'single digits.'

"The level and extensiveness of the frigid air may be tough to match the rest of the winter," forecasters warned.

While a weekend winter storm still remains uncertain, forecasters believe a cold air mass could bring temperatures down to between 10 and 15 degrees early next week.

The heaviest snow will fall in the higher terrain of New England and the Appalachians. Some 5-10 inches of snow is possible in those areas. The bigger cities along Interstate 95 are more likely to see 2-6 inches with heavier totals to the north and west of downtown in each of the cities from DC to Boston.

The mercury has dipped down below zero for parts of the region this morning as temperatures have fallen to the lowest readings in nearly two years.

A quick-hitting snowstorm​ hit most of Massachusetts Sunday night into Monday before an arctic blast of air arrives on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Rare ‘stay at home’ weather warning issued as dangerous 114mph winds pose threat to life - Millions of mobile phone users got an emergency alert as people in Scotland and Northern Ireland warned to st