The US weather forecast includes temperatures felt as low as -40°C in the north of the country by midday on Friday, and freezing temperatures as far as the Texas coast.
Several cold records have already been broken: -53°C in western Canada, -38°C in Minnesota, but also further south, where temperatures are usually milder at this time of year. , -13°C in Dallas or -8°C in Houston.
This movement causes heavy snowfall in the north of the country, especially in the Great Lakes region.
Nearly a million Americans were without electricity on Friday morning, especially in the south-east of the country (Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Connecticut as well), according to the specialized site Poweroutage.us.
In North Dakota, major traffic arteries are closed “due to snow and wind, with areas of almost non-existent visibility and ice“, note the state authorities, advising travelers not to take the road in these conditions.