A treacherous mix of falling snow, sleet and freezing rain turned Tuesday morning commutes to misery for many returning from a long holiday weekend in the Northeast, one day after suspected twisters tore through parts of the South.
In the West, California and Arizona braced for another day of record warm temperatures after basking in the high 80s and low 90s on Monday.
In Washington, the federal government was opening three hours late after freezing rain coated the nation's capital and surrounding areas in hazardous ice.
Freezing rain fell throughout the Washington area overnight after the major storm system had already dropped several inches of snow Monday, leaving roads and sidewalks slick.
A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain made driving dicey in upstate New York, with winter storm warnings and other advisories posted.
On Monday, suspected tornados tied to the vast storm system turned several homes to rubble in the northwest corner of Florida's Panhandle and in Mississippi.