An unusual elongated and strong polar vortex winter, is was cold because the elongation axis pointed in this direction.
https://www.severe-weather.eu/global-weather/strong-polar-vortex-unusual-weather-united-states-cold-forecast-pattern-fa/?fbclid=IwAR0oP-cuSyYz9wRLePS7_FOSefiTgn_UF_ghg0J4PPr4DpGjJlN2zLIGaYQ
Trend should be milder times to close out February and the month of March.