Record low temperatures grip US

At least 16 people have been killed and more than 5,000 flights have been cancelled in Canada and the US amid record-low temperatures.

An Arctic chill has already covered areas of Canada and the north eastern Us with up to 60 cm of snow while the states of Ohio, South Dakota and Illinois are among the worst hit.

Temperatures as low as -28C have prompted the US National Weather Service to label the winter storm as the coldest weather in years.

"An incredibly strong surge of bitterly cold Arctic air would sweep across the country from Saturday night until Tuesday, bringing the coldest weather in two decades" the Weather Service said.

Forecasters say temperatures in the US Mid-West could feel as low as -30C with the effect of wind chill.

Authorities have warned residents to remain indoors, both for their own safety and to keep roads clear for snow removal.

In Canada, the temperature dropped as low as -29C in Toronto and -38C in Quebec City with wind chill on Thursday - the lowest seen in at least two decades there.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people on the island of Newfoundland remain without power due to a transformer fire linked to heavy snow.

Heavy snow has also affected US states including New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, with school closed, transport systems drawn to a halt and residents told to stay at home. Boston was said to be the worst hit with nearly 18in (45cm) of snow.

Sixteen deaths have been blamed on the wide-ranging storm while some 1,200 flights were cancelled across the US.

About 6,000 flights were delayed on Saturday, according to reports, following more than 4,000 cancellations earlier in the week.