Image
Few motorists venture out on Pioneer Parkway in Arlington, Texas, on 6 December 2013. A large ice storm caused travel problems and power outages moving through the Dallas area
A powerful icy storm system is sweeping across the US, resulting in temperatures dropping to -29C and lower as well as deaths, power cuts and massive travel disruption.

A severe winter storm warning has been issued by the Government's National Weather Service, and forecasters say the storm is heading for Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic next.

Yesterday, the mercury dropped to -29C in Montana and South Dakota during the day, while officials have warned residents in northwest Minnesota to brace for temperatures as low as -45C with the impact of wind chill.

What was described as a "complex winter storm" affected much of the central and eastern parts of the country this weekend, and the storm warning was due to remain in place until 10am EST (3pm GMT) on Monday in some areas.

Meanwhile, the NWS also issued a "hard freeze warning" for large parts of the Midwest, and freeze warnings for the west coast.

Four people have died in the San Francisco Bay area of California as a result of hypothermia, and at least six deaths in traffic-related incidents were blamed on the severe weather across several states.

One person died in North Texas after a pick-up truck lost control on an icy bridge.

In Virginia, state Emergency Management spokeswoman Laura Southard said the storm had the potential to be a "historic ice event".

"This forecast is very concerning to us," Ms Southard said yesterday. "I've worked multiple disasters, but I've never worked an ice storm with a forecast like this. It's just really important for everybody to take extra precautions."

Among the road closures yesterday were Interstate 35, north of Dallas, Texas, where treacherous conditions had seen crashes and vehicles struggling to climb hills. About 75,000 homes in the Dallas area were without power on Saturday, down from a peak of more than 270,000.

The ice storm has forced the cancellation of a number of large annual events, including today's Dallas Marathon, which was expected to draw 25,000 runners, and the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis, expected to see 20,000 people competing.