The polar vortex that’s plagued the US this winter continued to limit shoppers from buying new cars in February, according to Edmunds.com.

Edmunds.com forecasts that 1,201,445 new cars and trucks will be sold in the US in February for an estimated Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 15.5m. The projected sales will be an 18.9% increase from January, and a 0.8% gain on February 2013.

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“When the weather doesn’t behave, it has a negative impact on car shoppers who are looking for an easy and smooth process at the dealership, so that’s why sales will be weak for a second month in a row,” says Edmunds.com Sr. Analyst Jessica Caldwell.

“But as the weather improves – a lot like we saw this past week – dealerships will be filled with eager shoppers. The strength of pent-up demand promises to keep sales on the right path as spring approaches.”

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