The planet has been shattering heat records for the past two years. That was expected to ease in January—and the fact that it didn't has climate researchers worried.

The Current Temperature map shows the current temperatures color ... to a variety of temperature scales. In most of the world (except for the United States, Jamaica, and a few other countries ...

meteorologists had issued special weather statements ahead of the incoming low temperatures. A map from the NWS Weather Prediction Center shows the states expecting subzero wind chills.