image copyright Reuters
The Buffalo area was particularly affected, as severe weather hampered rescue efforts
The deaths of at least 38 people have been linked to the severe freezing caused by polar winds in the blizzard that struck the United States and Canada.
Officials say 34 people have died across the United States, with the worst-hit area being Buffalo in New York state.
Four deaths occurred in Canada when a bus overturned on an icy road near the town of Merritt in western British Columbia.
The storm caused chaos for several days, but power steadily returned after an earlier blackout.
About 200,000 people were still without power as of Sunday afternoon EST, down from a peak of 1.7 million, The Associated Press reports.
Thousands of flights have been cancelled, preventing many people from reaching their families for Christmas.
More than 55 million Americans remained under cold wind warnings Sunday.
image copyright Reuters
Snow covered many homes and public facilities
The reach of the blizzard conditions was unprecedented, stretching from Canada as far south as Texas.
The winter storm, also known as a “bomb cyclone”, occurs when atmospheric pressure drops, causing heavy snowfall and winds that disrupt travel across the country.
“This will go down in history as the most destructive storm in Buffalo,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncars told Reuters news agency that dead people had been found in cars and icy ponds.
image copyright Reuters
In Canada, a number of motorists had to abandon their cars in snow storms in the province of Ontario
Storm-related deaths have also been reported in Vermont, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas and Colorado.
The state of Montana in the western United States is hardest hit by the cold, with temperatures dropping to 50 F (-45 C).
In Canada, Ontario and Quebec are bearing the brunt of the storm.
In Quebec, nearly 120,000 consumers lost power on Sunday. Officials say it could take days to restore power to some families.