US storm latest: Central Park snow breaks 121-year record; private jet crashes moments after take-off

Thanks for following our coverage of the winter storm rolling across the US.

Parts of the country were buried in at least 20 inches of snow while a combination of freezing rain and ice knocked down power lines and left nearly one million without power in dangerously cold conditions.

The US also suffered its worst day for flight cancellations since COVID as a result of the weather.

At least nine deaths have been attributed to the storm so far, including a teenager who died in a sledding accident in Texas and a primary school teacher in Kansas whose body was found outside yesterday.

Low temperature records are now predicted to tumble as an Arctic chill follows the storm across the country, with more than 200 million people are still under cold alerts.

At least a foot of snow has fallen in 17 states, and the top snowfall total so far is 31ins in New Mexico, according to the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Here are the highest totals in inches so far in states that received at least a foot:

• Arkansas - 12ins in three locations
• Colorado - 23ins in Crested Bute
• Connecticut - 18.2ins in Coventry
• Illinois - 14ins in Johnston City
• Indiana - 14.5ins in Columbus
• Massachusetts - 20.5ins in Middleton
• Missouri - 14,5ins in Fredericktown
• New Hampshire - 16ins in Newton
• New Jersey - 17ins in Branchville
• New Mexico - 31ins in Bonito Lake
• New York - 17.6ins in New City
• Ohio - 16.9ins in Zanesville
• Oklahoma - 14ins in Sayre
• Pennsylvania - 23ins in New Bethlehem
• Rhode Island - 16.7ins in Providence
• Vermont - 12ins in Springfield
• West Virginia - 16.6ins in Davis

The number of deaths attributed to the storm in the US has now risen to 13, local officials said.

A 17-year-old male in Arkansas died in a car accident while participating in snow day activities on Saturday, the Saline County Sheriff's Office said.

The Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Coroner's Office confirmed three deaths from over the weekend, where individuals were reportedly engaged in snow shovelling or snow clean-up prior to experiencing a medical emergency.

The deceased ranged in age from 60 to 84 years old, according to a release from the coroner's office.

Of the other nationwide deaths attributed to the storm, two happened in Texas, three in Tennessee, two in Louisiana, one in Kansas and one in Massachusetts, officials in those places said.

In New York, at least five people were found dead outside in freezing temperatures on Saturday. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said their cause of death was yet to be determined. 

As it's unclear how they died, the five deaths are not included in the Paste BN tally of 13 fatalities attributed to the storm so far.

Refuse workers are out in force across Brooklyn as the borough cleans up after the snow storm.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X: "Thank you to all of the city workers who have been working around the clock this weekend to keep us safe. No job is too small, no storm is too big."

By Kathryn Prociv, NBC News senior meteorologist

Though the snow might be on its way out, more than 200 million people are still under cold alerts, touching almost every state east of the Rockies and outside New England.

In Minnesota, wind chills of minus 40 degrees are being recorded in Duluth and minus 26 in Minneapolis, with minus 16 in Chicago and minus 26 further south in St. Louis, Missouri.

Record temperature lows are expected this morning across Texas and into the mid-South, including Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, in Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Little Rock, Arkansas. Even highs are forecast 20 to 30 degrees below average, likely failing to rebound much during the afternoon.

The intense cold is set to continue all week, meaning those who lost power in the storm face several frigid days in their homes.

We've just been hearing from an AccuWeather reporter on the ground in Greenville, South Carolina, one of the areas affected by the freezing winter storm.

Bill Wadell tells presenter Jayne Secker the preliminary estimate for the total damage and economic loss for this winter storm in the US "stands at $105bn-$115bn".

In terms of the human cost, he says communities in many parts of the central and eastern US are expecting to feel "some of the coldest air so far this season" to surge in over the next few days.

The Arctic chill follows the snow and ice storm which has already left millions of homes and businesses without heat and electricity 

"It can turn into a life-threatening emergency when we have first responders and even utility crews having a very tough time trying to get around on these roads," Waddell says.

Watch his full report from South Carolina

A primary school teacher who went missing on Friday in Kansas was found dead 300 yards from where she was last seen on video, police said.

Rebecca Rauber, 28, was last seen at 11.44pm having left a bar in Emporia. Police said that a dog volunteer group found her body covered in snow in a nearby wooded area yesterday.

"Rebecca may have succumbed to hypothermia early on in her disappearance," police said. "Next of kin has been notified. We want to thank our community for the outpouring of care and assistance during this situation."

Rauber was a second-grade teacher (equivalent to Year 3 in the UK) at Riverside Elementary School, according to the Emporia Public Schools website, which said that "all who were touched by her life and dedication to education" were "deeply saddened".

So far there have been nine confirmed deaths attributed to the winter storm.

The number of deaths attributed to the storm in the US has now risen to nine, local officials said.

One of the newly announced fatalities came yesterday in a sledding accident in Frisco, Texas, involving two 16-year-old girls being pulled by a 16-year-old boy driving a Jeep Wrangler, according to a "preliminary investigation" by police.

Witnesses saw the sled being pulled by a vehicle before it collided with a curb and then a tree, the Frisco Police Department said in a statement. Both girls were taken to hospital, where one died and the other remains in a critical condition, the statement said.

Of the other nationwide deaths attributed to the storm, another one happened in Texas, three in Tennessee, two in Louisiana, one in Kansas and one in Massachusetts, officials in those places said.

In New York, at least five people were found dead outside in freezing temperatures on Saturday. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said their cause of death was yet to be determined. 

As it's unclear how they died, the five deaths are not included in the Paste BN tally of nine fatalities attributed to the storm so far.

Over 3,600 US flights were cancelled and 714 ⁠were delayed as of this morning, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware, following more than 11,000 cancellations reported yesterday.

The ​number of cancellations and delays is expected ​to rise as the day progressed. 

American Airlines accounted ​for the largest share of disruptions this morning, with nearly 570 flights cancelled and about 57 delayed, followed by Republic Airways, JetBlue Airways and ‍Delta Air Lines. 

The storm has also impeded road travel. The Federal Emergency Management Agency warned that driving conditions could become dangerous as blizzard-like conditions, strong winds and ice spread further.