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Cities are closing in the American Midwest as the region shivers in a deadly cold wave called the Polar Vortex.
At least seven people have been killed in several states because of the Arctic climate.
Temperatures have dropped to -30 ° C in Chicago – colder than parts of Antarctica – and -37 ° C in North Dakota.
The cold weather will freeze 250 million Americans and 90 million of them will live at -17 ° C or less.
What is the forecast?
The snow is expected to fall throughout Wednesday from the Great Lakes region to New England. It is expected to be up to 24 inches (60 cm) in the state of Wisconsin and 6 inches in Illinois.
Exceptional states have been reported in the Midwest, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois, and even in the states of Alabama and Mississippi, located in the deep south and normally warmer .
"This could possibly make history," said Ricky Castro, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Illinois.
The NWS warns that frostbite is possible within 10 minutes of being absent at such extreme temperatures.
Grand Forks, North Dakota, had the lowest chill to date at -54 ° C on Wednesday morning.
Twenty million people in the Americas are expected to experience temperatures below -28 ° C by the end of the week.
How did the dead happen?
On Wednesday, two Michigan residents were found dead in their neighborhoods, The Associated Press reported.
Officials say that one may have been disoriented and wandered in the cold without proper attire.
On Tuesday, a 55-year-old man died of cold in a garage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The forensic doctor's office said that he "s apparently collapsed after shoveling snow," local media reports said.
In Beijing, Illinois, NBC News reported an 82-year-old man died of hypothermia outside his home.
A 75-year-old man was killed by a snow plow near Chicago on Monday.
The driver of the plow was put on paid leave while the incident is being investigated, according to WGN9 News.
In northeastern Indiana, a young couple died as a result of a collision on icy roads.
How does the cold wave affect daily life?
The US Postal Service halted mail deliveries in parts of 10 Great Plains and Midwest states.
Hundreds of schools, as well as colleges and universities, have been closed in affected states.
Beer deliveries in Wisconsin were also affected as brewers delayed shipments for fear that their beverages would freeze in trucks.
Weather authorities in the state of Iowa warned people "to avoid taking deep breaths and minimizing conversations" if they went out.
Midwestern farmers have taken steps to protect their livestock, including building igloos for chickens.
In North Dakota, livestock breeders Joey Myers and Scott Bailey told the Reuters news agency that they planned to stay with their pets during the cold snap to avoid accidents mortals.
Cold weather could cause pregnant cows to give birth prematurely, farmers said, and newborn calves can not survive in such conditions.
The Animal Rights Organization Peta has warned people to bring their pets indoors.
Meanwhile, the McLean County Police in Illinois was amused in announcing that Elsa's Disney film Frozen had been arrested.
And for Chicago?
Residents of America's third largest city are no strangers to the cold, but they have been warned to expect an unusually dangerous freeze.
Chicago has seen more than 1,500 canceled flights from its two main airports and the rail operator Amtrak has removed rail services from its hub.
With the icy breeze blowing over Lake Michigan, the windy city will feel rather at -45 ° C.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel urged people not to go out if possible.
Photo caption: A man walks on North Avenue Beach as the sun rises over Lake Michigan in Chicago
Dozens of "warming centers" have been opened for some 80,000 people sleeping on the streets.
But at least one homeless Chicago said he preferred to try his luck on the outside.
Tony Neeley told the New York Times: "Many of us do not go to shelters because of bedbugs, we do not go because people steal from you.
"We do not go there because we can not even sleep in the shelter."
The sites of interest in the city of Illinois, including the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Field Museum and the Art Institute, are all closed.
A number of cafes and other local businesses have closed, including some of its famous deep dish pizzerias.
Chicago police said people were being robbed of coats, including Canada Goose jackets, which can cost $ 1,100 (£ 900).
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