Polar vortex: how cold will it be and what should the midwest expect?

Though the region is familiar with bitter winters, record low temperatures may be threatening, forecasters warn

Record low temperatures are descending on the American midwest. The region is long familiar with bitter winters, but this is an exceptional cold snap that forecasters warn could be life-threatening. The extreme chill comes after a snowstorm that hit the area overnight on Monday.

Related: Americans’ climate change concerns surge to record levels, poll shows

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Snowstorm takes out power in US mid-Atlantic after five deaths in midwest

A winter storm that contributed to at least five deaths in the US midwest pummeled the mid-Atlantic region for a second day on Sunday, bringing with it an icy mix that knocked out power, cancelled flights and contributed to hundreds of car accidents.

Virginia state police said the driver of a military surplus vehicle was killed late on Saturday after he lost control on Interstate 81 due to slick road conditions.

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Five dead on midwest roads as huge snowstorm heads for Washington DC

  • Parts of Missouri see more than a foot of snow
  • Capital and Maryland face heavy falls on Sunday

A massive winter snowstorm making its way across the midwest and into the US mid-Atlantic region dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of Missouri and contributed to at least five deaths, authorities said on Saturday.

The storm moved into Kansas and Nebraska from the Rockies on Friday, then east into Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, covering roads and making driving dangerous.

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Monster snowstorm to blanket more than half of United States

Winter storm ‘expected to create havoc’ as it moves from western US across the middle of the country

A massive winter storm hit the US Rockies and plains on Friday then punched east, with snow set to assault a 1,800-mile (1,609 km) corridor through the weekend, creating transportation “havoc” in the middle of the country.

The system started as rain from Mexico and turned to snow as it met icy air. Up to 18in (45cm) of snow were expected in the Sangre de Cristo mountains south of Denver, according to the National Weather Service.

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Parts of Europe blanketed by heavy snowfall – video

Heavy snowfall has caused chaos in Germany and Austria, as both countries remain on high alert. Several people have died in weather-related incidents. Troops have been deployed to help residents and helicopters are clearing snow from trees to stop it from falling on cars.

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Heavy snow brings chaos and death to Germany and Austria

Alpine regions remain on high alert after 12 people are killed in weather-related incidents

Parts of Germany and Austria remain on high alert after extreme snow in Alpine regions, where 12 people have died in weather-related incidents.

A nine-year-old German boy was the latest victim of the extreme weather, which has resulted in residents becoming snowed-in and motorists trapped for hours in freezing temperatures.

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Teenage Australian boy killed in Austrian avalanche while skiing with family

Sixteen-year-old dies after he and his mother were swept away while skiiing at St Anton am Arlberg

A 16-year-old Australian boy has been killed in an avalanche in Austria, local police said.

The boy was skiing with his parents and 14-year-old brother at St Anton am Arlberg, western Austria, on Wednesday, when he and his mother were swept away by the avalanche, local news reports said. His mother was able to escape unhurt, but the boy was buried in 2m of snow.

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