NEW YORK - For much of the northeast United States, Valentine's Day was the coldest on record, with people bundling up for the not-so-warm embrace of teeth-chattering temperatures.

From New York and Boston to Providence, Rhode Island, and Hartford, Connecticut, temperatures on Sunday morning dipped to as low as minus 40 - on Mount Washington in New Hampshire.The National Weather Service said the temperature in New York City's Central Park fell to minus 1, a record low for the date. The last time it was below zero in Central Park was in January 1994."I'm dumb enough to do this," exclaimed John Male before starting a 12-mile park run on Sunday morning with two companions."I just always come out and I just decided not to do anything differently" - except to wear a furry tiger hat with two tails over his normal headgear, in addition to four layers of clothing.His running partner also was wearing a tiger hat on top of the balaclava that covered her face - except the eyes."It's zero degrees and feels like negative 19; I'm going to sue him for personal injury after this," joked Molly Manning, a Manhattan attorney. "I'm here because they peer-pressured me to come out today. They basically made me feel like I was a wimp unless I came out."Boston reached minus 9, breaking the record set in 1934 by 6 degrees. It reached minus 16 in Worcester, Massachusetts, breaking the 1979 record of 11 below zero. Providence hit minus 9 and Hartford minus 12, also breaking records from 1979.In Montpelier, Vermont, the overnight temperature hit minus 19, tying a record set in 2003. And South Lincoln, Vermont, recorded 27 below zero.Temperatures were so low in some spots, utilities were knocked out. A frozen regulator left about 400 customers in Connecticut without natural gas service and officials believe extreme cold in Vermont broke a utility pole, knocking out service to about 1,500.An emergency generator didn't kick in for Sheffield Selectboard Chairman Walter Smith, who said he lost a greenhouse full of about 500 orchids.Temperatures were expected to climb before a winter storm already bringing snow to the Midwest moves into the region.West Virginia could see up to 9 inches of snow from the storm before it heads into the warming northeast.The National Weather Service said up to 3 inches of snow was possible in Philadelphia and 2 inches in New York on Washington's Birthday.ForecastTonight, the National Weather Service is predicting a mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 1 a.m., then rain and sleet between 1 and 4 a.m.New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches are possible before the precipitation turns to rain.Rain will be heavy at times Tuesday, could be heavy at times. The temperature will be near 47. With 1 to 2 inches of rain predicted, localized flooding is possible.