Winter Storm Blair has plunged parts of the US into a deep freeze, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and causing widespread disruption. Snow, ice, strong winds, and dangerously low temperatures are impacting a large swathe of the country, with some areas experiencing their heaviest snowfall in a decade, according to the National Weather Service. The polar vortex is being blamed for the extreme cold, with temperatures plummeting to as low as -40°C in northern Canada. A state of emergency has been declared in seven states: Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, and parts of New Jersey. The severe weather has led to school and government office closures, and over 1,000 flight cancellations.
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