Arctic blast chills US, Canada in JFK airport meltdown

New York

THE eastern United States and Canada froze on Saturday under record-breaking low temperatures following a deadly winter storm as New York's flagship airport descended into chaos, battling to contain flight backlog.

In Canada, temperatures approaching -50 deg Celsius were forecast in northern Ontario and Quebec. Arctic blasts and dangerously cold wind chills could make it feel as low as -43 deg Celsius across the eastern United States, with the risk of frostbite to exposed skin within 10 minutes, officials warned.