Canada has been blanketed in snow from coast to coast after severe winter storm hit transport and left thousands of homes without electricity. Strong winds and snowfall have hampered relief efforts, with meteorologists forecasting more bad weather to come.
Storm warnings have been issued for coastal areas of Nova Scotia and Vancouver, Quebec and Ontario were also braced for more wintry weather.
Weathermen say that Canada may see its first countrywide with Christmas since 1971.
Several areas in the US have also been settling in for an extended cold snap, with storm warnings in place across a number of states after a weekend of hurricane-force winds and heavy snowfall.
In eastern Canada, Nova Scortia power reported that tens of thousands of customers were without electricity, with more forecast to fall. Some ferry services to the south eastern province had been cancelled, while cross-country rail networks have also been affected.
Several bridges, ferries and parts of the Trans-Canada highway were closed to traffic.