And nearly 5,000 flights within, into or out of the US were canceled Friday, according to the tracking site FlightAware, causing disrupting travelers as they attempted to make it home for Christmas.
Temperatures across inland states have plunged: -45.6C (-50F) in Montana, and Des Moines in Iowa feeling like -38C (-37F), making it possible to suffer frostbite in a matter of minutes, according to the National Weather Service.
The huge storm was not confined to the US. In Canada, WestJet canceled all flights Friday at Toronto Pearson International Airport, beginning at 9 am as meteorologists in the country warned of a potential once-in-a-decade weather event.
Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Kerry Schmidt said police had received reports of up to 100 vehicles involved in multiple collisions that have closed off a major highway near London, Ontario.
