‘Life-threatening cold’ hits parts of US following deadly weekend flooding

A pedestrian bundles up as he walks along the shore of Lake Michigan at Montrose beach during cold weather in Chicago (AP Photo/Nam Y Huh)

Harsh cold descended on the middle of the US on Monday as a polar vortex gripped the Rockies and Northern Plains on the heels of weekend storms that pummelled the nation’s east with floods, killing at least 14 people.

The National Weather Service warned of “life-threatening cold” as wind chills dropped to minus 60 Fahrenheit (minus 51C) in parts of North Dakota on Monday and minus 50F (minus 46C) in parts of Montana. Tuesday morning was forecast to be even colder.