The arctic blast that has shattered temperature records and taken the lives of more than 20 people across the U.S. will ease its grip on much of the country today, providing relief for millions scrambling to stay warm.
But as the weather begins to warm, grisly discoveries have been made of bodies frozen in the snow. In Akron, Ohio, a postal worker discovered the body of a man in a driveway, while in Maryland a homeless man was found frozen to death behind a business in Morningside.
The tragedies come a day after all 50 U.S. states endured freezing temperatures, and areas of the Midwest and East were colder than much of Antarctica. Even Hawaii experienced the chill as temperatures plummeted to 18F (-8C) atop Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano.
Just yesterday, Atlanta endured a record low of 6 degrees, causing fountains to freeze over and forcing southerners to dig out rarely-worn winter hats and coats, but today the southern city is predicted to see sunny skies and temperatures of 42 degrees.
In the Midwest and East, where brutal polar air has lingered over the past few days, temperatures climbed but were still expected to be below freezing.
On Thursday, highs in the 20s or 30s in much of the Great Lakes and Northeast will seem downright balmy compared to earlier in the week.
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Thawing out: Ice collects on the Delaware River in view of Philadelphia. Temperatures across the city remain well below freezing but are rising nonetheless after a blast of arctic air set cold-weather records Wednesday
Still cold! A man walks past a car partially covered in ice in Baltimore on Wednesday where temperatures remain below freezing
A motorist drives by the ice forming on a cliff along Route 61 in Palo Alto, Pennsylvania as temperatures rise but remain below zero
The frozen mist from Niagara Falls coats the landscape around Prospect Point at Niagara Falls State Park, Tuesday
Canadian Coast Guard ice breaker Pierre-Radisson clears the ice flow under the Quebec bridge on the St-Lawrence River in front of Quebec City, Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Extreme cold and strong winds are hitting parts of North America
It's warming up! A forecast for Wednesday shows temperatures across much of the U.S. will creep above freezing, providing relief after a brutal start to the week
It's warming up! A forecast for Wednesday shows temperatures across much of the U.S. will creep above freezing, providing relief after a brutal start to the week
Forecast: A map shows Wednesday's expected highs - a stark difference to Tuesday, when areas of the Midwest and East were colder than much of Antarctica
More than 20 people have lost their lives in the deep freeze, including seven people in Illinois, and six in Indiana.
At least five people died after collapsing while shoveling snow. In White Lake Township, a 72-year-old was found dead with a shovel in his hand in his backyard after apparently trying to dig a tractor out of a snow bank. His family had not heard from him for three days.
In Akron, Ohio on Tuesday, a postal worker found the body of a 42-year-old man in a driveway while delivering mail. The worker alerted neighbors, who called the police. The man, who displayed no signs or trauma or foul play, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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