American President Joe Biden has issued a “serious” weather warning as mercury plunges to -39C in a so-called “bomb cyclone”. The warning will impact more than 100million Americans.
Temperatures across central states have dipped drastically, with temperatures plummeting to -31C in Montana.
Des Moines in Iowa will feel like -39C and possibly be cold enough for residents to suffer frostbite in less than five minutes.
In a forecast update, the National Weather Service said: “An arctic blast of dangerous and life-threatening cold will consume much of the Lower 48 over the next few days.
“Wind chill warnings, watches and advisories currently extend from the Northwest to as far south as the Gulf Coast and east into the Eastern US.
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“A powerful winter storm is also expected with the blast to produce heavy snow and blizzard conditions in the Midwest and Great Lakes.”
Mr Biden responded to the forecast by issuing his compatriots with a warning.
The 80-year-old POTUS said: “This is not like a snow day when you were a kid. This is serious stuff.”
In an update on Twitter, Biden wrote: “Earlier, I gathered my team for a briefing on the extreme cold and storms we’re seeing across America.
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport reported at least 550 cancellations and more than 500 delays.
Chicago Midway International Airport was hit by an additional 250 cancellations and 73 delays.
Denver International Airport recorded 565 cancellations and nearly 580 delays as of Thursday afternoon.
