US storm kills 21 people and leaves millions without power

According to the National Weather Service, over 73% of the US is covered in snow.

Southern states such as Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri have recorded deaths attributed to efforts of trying to keep warm in the extreme winter conditions and traffic accidents.

Record numbers of those dying from carbon monoxide poisoning have been reported, thought to be from people running generators to keep warm, in what has been described as an "absolute public health disaster".

While the frigid storm is set to continue to the weekend, 4 million people in Texas have been experiencing blackouts due to an overwhelming demand for power from local residents who rarely experience -18C temperatures.

Even areas of Mexico, millions have also been experiencing power outages.

Other areas of the US that the cold snap has impacted are coronavirus vaccination centres. Many doses of COVID-19 jabs have had to have their deliveries postponed, and in some cases, centres rushed to use vaccines that could no longer be kept at their required temperature due to the extreme weather conditions.