Brutally cold temperatures and winter storms have had large portions of the country in their clutches over the past week. These winter weather events have proven deadly, resulting in the deaths of 55 people across the country.

Over 60 million Americans were under winter weather advisories over the past week with wind chills in some regions as frigid as -30 degrees. More snow than was forecast fell in Baltimore, New York City, and Washington D.C.

Lake effect snow totaled up to around 14 inches in the Buffalo, New York area. Freezing rain made driving conditions hazardous in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee.

Two states have especially suffered from winter’s wrath this past week with Tennessee reporting 19 fatalities connected to the severe winter weather and Oregon documented 16, including 3 deaths from downed power lines that landed on an SUV, killing all 3 occupants.

The remaining number of lives tragically lost to the cold occurred in Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

The Pacific Northwest and the South have consumed record amounts of natural gas over the past week for heating to combat the deep freeze.

In the Pittsburgh area, many schools were delayed or closed on January 19th due to the snowfall and the severe cold, including Robert Morris which delayed classes until 11 a.m.

The good news for those weary of enduring the frigid conditions is that the National Weather Service is predicting a thaw for this week and temperatures that will be above average.