Bone-chilling cold gripped much of North America as 2018 began, breaking century-old records and leading to several deaths that authorities attributed to exposure to the dangerously low temperatures.
Deep Freeze
In this Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, photo, homeless men Sean Stuart, left, and Segundo Rivera walk on a street after spending the day at St. Francis House in Boston. With temperatures across Massachusetts not expected to rise above freezing for days, politicians and advocates for the homeless are particularly concerned about getting as many people as possible into shelters. Stuart and Rivera told the Boston Herald that they're not comfortable spending the night in a shelter. "We've lived out here so long it's like honestly, this is comfortable for us," Rivera said. (Christopher Evans/The Boston Herald via AP)
APTOPIX Deep Freeze Massachusetts
The cold snap continues as a man walks on the pier along side a frozen section of the harbor at Fort Taber Park in the south end of New Bedford, Mass., on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. (Peter Pereira /Standard Times via AP)
Deep Freeze Pennsylvania
Workers clear streets, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in downtown Erie, Pa. The cold weather pattern was expected to continue through the holiday weekend and likely longer, according to the National Weather Service, prolonging a stretch of brutal weather blamed for several deaths, crashes and fires. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Canada Deep Freeze
A couple walks near the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, as cold weather continues through much of the province on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. (Aaron Lynett/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada Deep Freeze
Visitors take photographs at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, as cold weather continues through much of the province on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. (Aaron Lynett/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada Deep Freeze
Visitors try to keep warm at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, as cold weather continues through much of the province on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. (Aaron Lynett/The Canadian Press via AP)
Deep Freeze
A man rides on his bicycle as fresh snow falls, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in Erie, Pa. The cold weather pattern was expected to continue through the holiday weekend and likely longer, according to the National Weather Service, prolonging a stretch of brutal weather blamed for several deaths, crashes and fires. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Deep Freeze Iowa
Frankie Lafuente, 11, lays in the snow after a crash with his brother while sledding down a hill by the capitol on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in Des Moines. Temperatures across the state continue to drop as more snow falls on Friday afternoon. (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP)
Deep Freeze Iowa
Aiden Lafuente, 12, left, looses a boot as his brother Frankie, 11, crashes into him as they sled down a hill by the capitol on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in Des Moines. Temperatures across the state continue to drop as more snow falls on Friday afternoon. (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP)
Deep Freeze Indiana
A man pushes his bicycle along Park East Boulevard as heavy snow falls Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in Lafayette, Ind. (John Terhune/Journal & Courier via AP)
Deep Freeze-Pennsylvania
Kevin Deiner of Erie, Pa., digs out his Ford Escape buried on West Sixth Street Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. Forecasters say 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall in most areas before the precipitation end by late Saturday afternoon. But several inches of snow were expected in Erie, which was under a lake effect snow warning issued by the National Weather Service. ( Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News via AP)
Deep Freeze Pennsylvania
Ben Seyboldt plays in the snow in his front yard in Erie, Pa., Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. Several feet of lake-effect snow has fallen on the Erie region since Christmas Eve. (Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News via AP)
Deep Freeze-Pennsylvania
Kevin Deiner of Erie, Pa., pushes his Ford Escape out of the deep snow on West Sixth Street Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. Forecasters say 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall in most areas before the precipitation end by late Saturday afternoon. But several inches of snow were expected in Erie, which was under a lake effect snow warning issued by the National Weather Service. ( Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News via AP)
Deep Freeze-Pennsylvania
Timothy Gigone, 51, of Erie, Pa., skis south on Sassafras Street near the intersection of West 14th Street Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. Forecasters say 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall in most areas before the precipitation end by late Saturday afternoon. But several inches of snow were expected in Erie, which was under a lake effect snow warning issued by the National Weather Service. ( Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News via AP)
Deep Freeze-Pennsylvania
Ron Rodney of Erie and his daughter Leah, 4, climb the stairs behind Strong Vincent Middle School while sled riding Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. Forecasters say 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall in most areas before the precipitation end by late Saturday afternoon. But several inches of snow were expected in Erie, which was under a lake effect snow warning issued by the National Weather Service. ( Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News via AP)
Deep Freeze Indiana
Bryan and Taylor Roscoe ride down the sledding hill at Shadyside Park in Anderson, Ind., on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. Several families took advantage of the fresh snowfall on the holiday weekend to ride down the park's sledding hill. (Don Knight/The Herald-Bulletin via AP)
Deep Freeze Virginia
Elliot Shores, 5, hits a puck into a net Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017 on a frozen pond on the campus of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia as his dad, Dan Shores, right, and friend, Golder O'Neill watch. (Scott Mason /The Winchester Star via AP)
Deep Freeze Virginia
Terry See uses a blower to clear a powdery snow from a driveway Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017 on Handley Ave. in Winchester, Va. (Scott Mason /The Winchester Star via AP)
APTOPIX Deep Freeze Minneapolis
Fans stand in line in subzero temperatures to enter U.S. Bank Stadium to watch an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)
Deep Freeze Minneapolis
April Nickila and Christina Liesmaki try to stay warm while waiting in subzero temperatures to enter U.S. Bank Stadium to watch an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)
Deep Freeze Illinois
People bundled up for the continued cold weather walk across an intersection in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Deep Freeze Minnesota
Steam rises from Lake Superior as the ship St. Clair comes to harbor during some of the coldest temps of the year, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, at Canal Park in Duluth, Minn. The St. Clair is a self-unloader built in 1976 at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and is 770 feet long and has 26 hatches that open into 5 cargo holds, providing a load capacity of 45,000 tons. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)
Deep Freeze Minnesota
Steam rises from Lake Superior as the ship St. Clair comes to harbor during some of the coldest temps of the year, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, at Canal Park in Duluth, Minn. The St. Clair is a self-unloader built in 1976 at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and is 770 feet long and has 26 hatches that open into 5 cargo holds, providing a load capacity of 45,000 tons. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)
Deep Freeze Illinois
Bundled-up people are reflected by the Cloud Gate at Millennium Park in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. Bitter cold temperatures are affecting parts of the U.S. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Deep Freeze Iowa
While many of the geese along the Des Moines River in Ottumwa took shelter from the cold by ducking under a wing for a New Year's Day nap, this bald eagle ate his lunch on the ice Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. The bitterly cold temperatures have reduced the amount of open water, concentrating waterfowl and eagles alike in those places where water is running. (Matt Milner/The Ottumwa Courier via AP)
Deep Freeze Iowa
While many of the geese along the Des Moines River in Ottumwa took shelter from the cold by ducking under a wing for a New Year's Day nap, this bald eagle ate his lunch on the ice Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. The bitterly cold temperatures have reduced the amount of open water, concentrating waterfowl and eagles alike in those places where water is running. (Matt Milner/The Ottumwa Courier via AP)
Deep Freeze Mississippi
Ice covers a pansy near the fountain at Beau View condominiums in Biloxi, Miss., on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. A hard freeze hit South Mississippi overnight and temperatures are expected to remain near or below freezing for the rest of the week. (John Fitzhugh/The Sun Herald via AP)
APTOPIX Deep Freeze Mississippi
Icicles hang from the fountain at Beau View condominiums in Biloxi, Miss., on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. A hard freeze hit South Mississippi overnight and temperatures are expected to remain near or below freezing for the rest of the week.(John Fitzhugh/The Sun Herald via AP)/The Sun Herald via AP)
APTOPIX Deep Freeze Pittsburgh
A barge cuts through ice on the Ohio River as it passes under the West End Bridge, along the North Shore district in Pittsburgh on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. (Haley Nelson/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)
Deep Freeze-Missouri
Steam rises above the waters of the Mississippi River underneath the Eads Bridge as the temperature hovers around -1 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, in St. Louis. Cold temperatures will stay throughout the week. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
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