Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States woke up without power Tuesday and federal government offices in Washington were closed after a band of snow and ice sliced across the South.
The storm left up to 15 centimeters (almost 6 inches) of snow in Washington, the first significant snowfall of the season for the nation's capital.
At least eight weather-related highway deaths were reported in Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. Police worked through the night and into Tuesday morning to clear a backup of vehicles stretching 19 kilometers (almost 12 miles) on icy Interstate Highway 40 near Nashville.
The northern edge of the storm brought even more snow to the Northeast. The National Weather Service said the eastern state of Massachusetts has now received more than 2.54 meters (8 feet, 4 inches) of snow this season.
While most people shivered, some found ways to enjoy themselves. In New Orleans, where the annual Mardi Gras celebration is underway, revelers were forced to bundle up as temperatures hovered near freezing.
In Washington, about 150 people gathered for a snowball fight in a city park.
The National Weather Service says unusually cold weather is expected to continue through much of the coming week for the eastern U.S.
Another arctic front will arrive on the East Coast by Wednesday night, bringing with it some of the coldest temperatures seen in the region for 20 years.
Watch video report from VOA's Zlatica Hoke:
