Winter storm claims 30 lives in the U.S.

Heavy snowfall and icy conditions have frozen roads, disrupting travel and leading to at least 30 fatalities.

Street cleaners use snow blowers on sidewalks in the Wall Street area of New York City.

Residents in South Boston shovel snow from their cars along the roads after a winter storm dumped more than 30 cm of snow on the area on 26/1.

The winter storm, characterized by heavy snow, strong winds, and freezing rain, struck a region stretching from New Mexico to North Carolina since last weekend. At least 30 people have died due to causes such as hypothermia, traffic accidents, and incidents during skiing, off-roading, and operating snow removal vehicles.

Weather forecasters predict that most of the northern U.S. will experience temperatures continuously below freezing until 1/2, while the southern region will record unprecedented low temperatures.

A student walks a bicycle through a snow-covered street on 5th Avenue in Oakland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Specialized crews clear snow and ice on President George Bush Highway in Plano, Texas.

Continuous snowfall in the Northeast resulted in some areas of Connecticut receiving more than 56 cm of snow. Boston, Massachusetts, also saw more than 40 cm of snow, severely impacting travel.

As of the evening of 26/1, more than 600,000 households were without power.

Ian Flood skis down a street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston.

This woman chooses to ski as a way to navigate Times Square in New York City.

U.S. Secret Service agents assist in pushing a car on a street in Washington D.C. At least 20 states and Washington have declared a state of emergency to mobilize relief forces and resources.

The heavy snowfall paralyzed traffic; many bus routes, trains, and flights were forced to halt operations.

Jack Grimes clears snow from a rooftop in Wardsboro, Vermont.

Dave Radell, a meteorologist with the U.S. National Weather Service, noted that the snow in this winter storm was dry and powdery, making it easy for wind to blow around, complicating road clearing efforts, and reducing visibility.

"These characteristics make everything much more difficult," he stated.

Specialized vehicles clear snow and ice at Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

This dangerous storm is a result of a stretched polar vortex, a mass of cold, low-pressure air in the Arctic. While typically compact and circular, it can sometimes deform into an oval shape, causing cold air to spill across North America.

Scientists suggest that climate change may be contributing to the increased frequency of this phenomenon, though debates continue.