Brutal mix of snow, rain and bitter cold hits Americans

Large part of US expected to face coldest conditions of winter so far in coming days

WASHINGTON - Residents in Billings, Montana, woke up to a temperature of minus 32 deg C. In Des Moines, Iowa, home owners were digging out and facing wind gusts of 72kmh. Residents in Paterson, New Jersey, were evacuated from flooded homes. And communities near the Gulf Coast were preparing for a deep freeze.

More than 40 million Americans were under winter weather advisories on Jan 13, according to the US National Weather Service, from rain to high winds to heavy snow, and a large portion of the United States was expected to face the coldest conditions of winter so far in the coming days.

Here is a look at some of what is going on around the country.

THE MIDWEST AFTER THE BLIZZARD

Some Iowans spent the morning of Jan 13 bundling up and clearing their driveways and walkways; the temperature was minus 17 deg C at one point, with a wind chill of minus 43 deg C. In Des Moines, main thoroughfares were drivable but still covered in snow and hazardous. Many rural highways remained impassable.

The Iowa State Patrol said that from 12.30am on Jan 12 to 10am on Jan 13, it responded to 535 motorist assist calls and 86 crashes, none of which was fatal.

Early in the afternoon of Jan 13, officials in Iowa noted deteriorating conditions as more snow and high winds arrived. By late afternoon, blizzard conditions were reported in parts of the state.

Blizzard warnings remained in effect for much of the day in many states, including for parts of North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. And areas of Michigan, Indiana and Minnesota faced additional snowfall.

FLOODING IN THE NORTH-EAST

The storm brought record-breaking water levels to parts of Maine's coast on Jan 13, leading to extensive flooding in at least one area.