The country has endured a record-breaking cold snap for much of the winter period but there are no signs of any respite, with some parts of the US set to remain in subzero temperatures for weeks to come.

A combination of low pressure and high winds will track close enough to the US east coast to bring everything from snow and ice to blizzard conditions and frigid winds later this week.

This low is forecast to track onto Nova Scotia at peak intensity, somewhere in the range of 950mb, having gone through a pressure drop of more than 30mb in 24 hours. This means strong winds, heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions are expected. 

The storm qualifies as a 'weather bomb' – a meteorological term for a storm that features a drop in pressure of around 24 millibars over a 24 hour period. 

The storm will undergo rapid strengthening, know as bombogenesis, as it moves up the east coast and Maine and New Brunswick are expected to face the brunt of the storm with up to 24 inches of snow forecast.

When bombogenesis happens, the low-pressure systems can create hurricane-force winds. Even though they are not technically hurricanes, many will call this a "winter hurricane."

Blizzard conditions are expected for some exposed areas on the east coast, including New York’s Long Island and parts of Connecticut and Maine.

Some people have been warned to expect power outages and to avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary, with flight delays and cancellations likely.

South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) tweeted: “SCDOT encourages residents and visitors in South Carolina’s coastal counties to stay off the roads if possible as winter weather moves into the state on Wednesday. 

“SCDOT crews have already begun pretreating bridges and main thoroughfares in those counties.

"Snow and freezing rain are predicted to move up SC's entire coast on Wednesday. SCDOT encourages anyone who must drive to use extreme caution.”

Meanwhile CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward warned: "The cold is here to stay and the worst is yet to come.”

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal tweeted to announce he has issued a state of emergency for 28 counties in the coastal region.

On New Year’s Day, 90 percent of the US remained below zero degrees Celsius and the freezing weather looks set to continue for at least the first few weeks of 2018.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal tweeted to announce he has issued a state of emergency for 28 counties in the coastal region.

On New Year’s Day, 90 percent of the US remained below zero degrees Celsius and the freezing weather looks set to continue for at least the first few weeks of 2018.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal tweeted to announce he has issued a state of emergency for 28 counties in the coastal region.

The winter break has brought record-breaking weather to parts of the US, with temperatures atop the highest peak in the north-east, Mount Washington, hitting a shocking -37 degrees celsius – breaking the previous record at the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire of -35C which was set in 1933.

In one Michigan county there were more than 30 crashes in a single morning yesterday as the freezing weather turned the roads to ice.

A dog in Ohio was found frozen solid on a front porch and three frozen Atlantic White Sharks were found washed up on Cape Cod Bay.

The cold snap has left some parts of the US colder than Mars over the winter break, with data from the Curiosity Rover shows temperatures on the red planet hit -23C on December 20.

While many are frustrated by the subzero temperatures, stunning images have emerged of some US landmarks that have been struck by the cold.

Some tourists have braved the chilly conditions to take in the views at the picturesque Niagara Falls, where water is freezing in mid-air.