celebrate christmas. hello and welcome to bbc news. an icy blast is affecting nearly 250 million people in the united states and canada, as one of the most severe winter storms in living memory takes hold, bringing with it snow blizzards, strong winds, and freezing temperatures. at least 19 people have died, hundreds of thousands of american households and businesses are without electricity and thousands of flights have been cancelled. the us state of montana registered a record breaking low of 45 celsius. from washington, nomia iqbal reports. the bomb cyclone has plunged more than half of the bomb cyclone has plunged more than half of this the bomb cyclone has plunged more than half of this country into sub zero temperatures. from coast to coast it has brought blistering storms, blinding snow, power outages, and can turn boiling hot water into a snow in seconds. the western state of montana is bearing the brunt, temperatures here at the lowest of 50 degrees. residents have
blowing, you can see the car in front of you, that s why police were telling people to stay at home and not go out what hao conditions. how has this affected your own christmas plans? we cancel tonight. tomorrow we are staying home here with our daughter and family for christmas day and we have christmas dinner tomorrow night. hopefully this all will be over tomorrow night and we will be able to dig out tomorrow afternoon and had to that turkey dinner. find tomorrow afternoon and had to that turkey dinner. that turkey dinner. and how dangerous that turkey dinner. and how dangerous is that turkey dinner. and how dangerous is it that turkey dinner. and how dangerous is it out - that turkey dinner. and how dangerous is it out there - that turkey dinner. and how dangerous is it out there for those who are mad enough to venture outside? venture outside? well, right now venture outside? well, right new police venture outside? well, right now police and venture outside? well,
roadways in stranded, the snow drifts over a few hours will be over the top of your car. how lona is over the top of your car. how long is this over the top of your car. how long is this expected - over the top of your car. how long is this expected to - over the top of your car. how long is this expected to go i over the top of your car. how long is this expected to go on? they are saying it should die down overnight the wind has died down a little bit today, late afternoon and in the evening, but it is still windy and snowing here right now. but they are saying anywhere between 20 and 40 centimetres by sunday morning. mi; between 20 and 40 centimetres by sunday morning. my goodness me. by sunday morning. my goodness me- some by sunday morning. my goodness me. some people by sunday morning. my goodness me. some people will by sunday morning. my goodness me. some people will be - by sunday morning. my goodness me. some people will be trapped j me. some people will be trapped in