The powerful winter storm that hit the USA is causing sub-zero temperatures, problems in transport and in the electricity supply throughout the country on the eve of the Christmas holidays, reported France Presse, quoted by BTA.

Conditions are too dangerous for travel, officials are warning, as millions of Americans are expected to hit the roads and fill airports over Christmas and New Year.

This morning, the US National Weather Service reported that "more than 240 million people across the country (about 70 percent of the population) are under warnings" for dangerous winter weather.

From there, they state that the climatic phenomenon extends "from the Canadian border to the Rio Grande on the Mexican border" and from the Pacific coast in the northwest to the Atlantic coast in the east.

The US ice front is expected to strengthen today and not weaken over the Christmas weekend.

Because of its power, the weather service in Buffalo, New York, said it was a "once-in-a-generation storm." 

According to data from the specialized site Flightware, more than 3,400 flights were canceled this morning, with the most affected airports being Seattle, New York, Detroit, Chicago and Denver, the Associated Press points out.

"Please take this storm very seriously," urged US President Joe Biden yesterday.

"I encourage everyone to heed the warnings at the local level. Things are serious," he added.

The Midwest and the Great Lakes region were particularly hard hit, where fog fell.

In the Great Plains, temperatures look set to drop to minus 55 degrees Celsius.

In the state of Minnesota, a temperature of minus 38 degrees Celsius was measured today.

Wind gusts of up to 80 km/h are expected in places, creating the risk of falling trees and power outages.

Nearly one million Americans are without electricity today in the southeastern states of Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Connecticut, reports the website Poweroutage.

Forecasters predict: A powerful snowstorm will hit the USA

The state of Oklahoma was hit by the winter storm yesterday, which led to the death of two people on the road.

"If there's any good news, it's that the storm is moving quickly through some areas," US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told MSNBC, quoted by Reuters.

He said many airports like the one in Denver "will quickly get back on their feet," and flights to Chicago may resume by the end of the day.

Canada is also bracing for "unseasonably low temperatures," heavy snowfall, and possibly freezing rain in some regions.

Authorities recommended that residents of the Canadian city of Quebec "be prepared for emergencies and prepare emergency kits with drinking water, food, medicine, a first aid kit and a flashlight."

The number of canceled or delayed flights from the country's main airport in Toronto is on the rise.

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