Much of the nation got off to a frigid start to the workweek on Monday and below-freezing temperatures will threaten to break records in parts of the South on Tuesday morning.

Hard freeze warnings were scheduled to be in effect Tuesday morning for much of northern Florida and parts of other Gulf Coast states, according to the National Weather Service.

Lows could reach the teens Tuesday morning in parts of Alabama and Mississippi and the mid-20s in parts of Louisiana and northern Florida, according to the weather service. Record lows could be tied or set in those areas as well as parts of southern Georgia and Texas.

Temperatures could get even colder later in the week, CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said.

The northern Plains could see wind chills of 20 to 30 degrees below zero from Monday night through Wednesday, Myers said.

The temperature in Florence, South Carolina, got down to 14 on Sunday, breaking the day’s record low of 18 set in 1979. Temperatures in the state got as low as 16 degrees on Monday morning, with Charleston tying a record low for the day of 28 degrees, according to the weather service.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the temperature was minus 7 Monday morning. In Chicago, Illinois, it was 11, with a wind chill of 3 below zero.

A weak storm system will move rapidly eastward across the Gulf Coast states Thursday and could bring a dusting of snow to Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia, Morris said.

A winter storm warning for moderate to heavy snowfall was to be in effect Monday night into Tuesday afternoon in parts of northwestern Washington state, northern Idaho, Montana and northern Wyoming, the weather service said.

Moderate to heavy snowfall also is possible in much of North Dakota from Tuesday to Wednesday, the weather service said.

Florida was monitoring the cold’s impact on crops, especially oranges and sugar cane, according to John Cherry, spokesman for the state’s Division of Emergency Management.

“When temperatures get below 28 degrees,” Cherry said, “and stay there for a duration of time,” crop damage can occur.

Florida Citrus Mutual, a trade group representing about 8,000 citrus growers in the state, said no damage was reported from Monday’s weather. Some parts of the growing area near Orlando had temperatures of around 26 degrees, but not long enough for damage, said group spokesman Andrew Meadows.

The state, which began warning residents last week to take precautions, will continue to advise residents and visitors about the weather, Cherry said. “Statewide, we’re focused on making sure people have heat, making sure people have shelter from the cold. And we’re urging people to be careful with heating devices in their home,” Cherry said.

Turning to the Northeast, the Weather Service warned that a large storm off the New England coast would continue to bring heavy snow to much of New York state, including the Buffalo and Syracuse areas.

(Source: CNN)