BISMARCK, North Dakota: More than 95 million people faced extreme cold on February 18 as a polar vortex sent temperatures to record lows. The freezing weather closed schools, burst water pipes, and forced communities to open extra shelters for homeless people.

"This is some of the coldest weather this winter across the central U.S.," said Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.

The bitter cold hit after severe storms over the weekend killed at least 17 people in the Eastern U.S. In the Midwest, wind chills dropped as low as -50 to -60 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is so dangerous that hundreds of public school districts canceled classes or switched to online learning this week in Oklahoma, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Missouri. In Kansas City, Kansas, dozens of tents were set up in one building to house the homeless.

More record-breaking cold is expected on February 20 and 21. In North Dakota, Bismarck's temperature dropped to -39°F, breaking a 1910 record of -37°F.

Stephanie Hatzenbuhler, who lives on a farm in North Dakota, said the cold made daily life difficult, from taking care of animals to keeping equipment running. "Every time is different, and you have to adapt," she said, calling it a "Siberian experience."

In Oklahoma, freezing rain and snow made roads dangerous. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol closed a highway between Tulsa and Okmulgee because trucks and cars were stuck on ice.

In upstate New York, heavy lake-effect snow created whiteout conditions and travel warnings. Snowfall across the U.S. ranged from several inches in Missouri and South Dakota to six feet in Wyoming.

Kentucky prepares for another storm

Kentucky, already dealing with flooding, is expecting up to six inches of snow. "This is a snowstorm in the middle of a natural disaster," said Governor Andy Beshear.

The weather-related death toll in Kentucky rose to 14, including two homeless people who likely died from hypothermia.

Virginia and North Carolina brace for snow

Virginia is preparing for up to a foot of snow just days after another winter storm. "If you're not where you need to be by midnight, don't travel," warned Governor Glenn Youngkin. The National Guard has been deployed, and shelters will remain open.

North Carolina has declared a state of emergency, expecting up to nine inches of snow in some areas. Big cities like Charlotte and Raleigh could see one to three inches. Officials warned about ice causing power outages and hazardous roads.

In Tennessee, a levee failure flooded the small town of Rives. The mayor said the damage is "unprecedented.

In West Virginia, three people died from flooding in McDowell County, where roads and water systems were severely damaged.

In Detroit, a century-old water main burst, flooding homes and streets. Emergency crews used inflatable boats and front-end loaders to rescue people.