After snow covered much of the United States on Monday, many Americans braced themselves for the coldest night in over two decades.<br /><br />The arctic blast which is spreading south and towards the east is threatening lives, forcing businesses and schools to close and sending electricity and oil consumption soaring. <br /><br />Medics are warning that the dangers of subzero temperatures go well beyond frost bite.<br /><br />“So frostbite, obviously, we’re worried about skin: fingers, toes, ears, noses, that kind of thing. But being out in the cold temperature, letting the core temperature fall, can actually be life threatening; can stop one’s heart, it can stop one’s breathing, and lead to death,” warned Dr. Ryan fey of Hennepin County Medical Centre.<br /><br />While officials in Chicago and many parts of the Midwest urged people to stay at home – emergency centres have been set up for the homeless. <br /><br />The only source of heat at airports appears to be the fraying tempers with everyone going nowhere as thousands of flights are cancelled.
