DENVER, United States, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Not since 1916 has it been this cold in America's West, as overnight temperatures dipped to minus 14 degrees Celsius Tuesday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) predicated temperature could be as low as minus 4 degrees overnight Wednesday, when unexpected blast of Arctic air killed plants and froze water across the state, and issued wind chill advisories across the region.

With 2 to 4 inches (1 inch equals 2.54 cm) of snow on the ground and 4 to 8 inches in the foothills and Front Range mountains, even government agencies, accustomed to winter snow and freezing temperatures, were caught off guard by the early-season blast.

The Colorado Department of Transportation reported a number of car and truck accidents on local roadways due to slick, icy road conditions.

The previous 98-year-old record for the coldest weather was minus 13 degrees in 1916.

"This is unbelievable ... everybody in Denver is shocked," said Denver resident Amy Aguirre, 48.

The freezing temperatures filled Denver's homeless shelters quickly, and crowded the public libraries during the frigid daytime.

"On any given day, you can see them lined up outside before we open, waiting to come in," said Chris Henning, a Denver Public Library spokesman, talking about the city's homeless.