The US Weather Service warned that an "unprecedented" cold wave will sweep the United States, accompanied by polar winds, which will lead to a sharp drop in temperatures.

From the eastern coast to the west coast, the country is witnessing freezing rain, snow and snowstorms.

Southern states like Texas which usually record high temperatures were also affected.

More than 150 million Americans live in a place where frost or freezing rain warnings have been made and preparedness plans have been put in place to face snowstorms.

The reason for the sudden cold wave that hit the continental United States is due to a combination of a polar hurricane that carries freezing temperatures and an active low with precipitation waves.

Millions of people suffer from water scarcity or are under a "water warning", which aims to urge people to be careful about contaminated tap water, and to invite them to use bottled water.