Days of bitter cold ahead for the Midwest

(WJBK) - A white Christmas for much of the Northeast and Midwest has given way to bitter cold until the New Year.

Michiganders should expect colder-than-normal temperatures for the rest of the week. Two Minnesota cities already have set record low temperatures and a city in Pennsylvania continues to dig out from a record snowfall.   

Forecasters warned of hypothermia and frostbite from arctic air settling in over the central U.S. and spreading east.

The average for this time of year is 33 degrees, but we'll see highs only in the teens for the next week. Friday looks like it will be our warmest day with temps reaching in the high teens. 

The City of Detroit has warming centers at Cass Community Social Services; and two Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries locations. You can get more information on those locations and other respite centers online here. 

A Christmas storm also dumped a record amount of snow on the Erie, Pennsylvania, area. And the National Weather Service said at least an additional 5 to 10 inches were expected through Wednesday. The storm brought 34 inches of snow on Christmas Day, an all-time daily snowfall record for Erie. Another 24.5 inches fell by Tuesday night, bringing the total since Dec. 23 to more than 62.9 inches.

The city issued a snow emergency, citing "dangerous and impassable" roads.

Forecasters warn of sub-zero frigid arctic air and dangerously cold wind chills in much of the US.

The Associated Press contributed to this report