In a chilling display of nature's power, historic lighthouses in Michigan have been encased in ice after an Arctic freeze brought extreme temperatures and left seven people dead. The frigid weather has also led to the cancellation and delay of over 5,000 flights, causing major disruptions to travel plans across the country.

Images of the lighthouses, located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Barrien County, emerged on Tuesday, showcasing the stunning but treacherous conditions brought about by the brutal weather. Record-low temperatures, accompanied by snow and freezing rain, have spanned from the South to the Northeast, resulting in over 140 million people under wind chill advisories or warnings.

Even New York City, which hadn't seen significant snowfall in over two years, experienced its first substantial snowfall on Monday night. And the situation is expected to worsen as temperatures plummet further on Tuesday, posing a threat to airlines and power grids.

Flight disruptions have been most severe at New York's LaGuardia airport, with 14 percent of flights cancelled and 57 percent delayed. Houston's Bush International and DC's Reagan National airport have also experienced significant disruptions.

The bone-chilling wind chills have pushed temperatures below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the South and Mississippi Valley regions, with nearly 80 percent of the country experiencing below-freezing temperatures over the next week. This has resulted in over 120,000 homes and businesses without power, particularly in Oregon, Texas, and Louisiana.

In addition to Michigan's icy lighthouses, other captivating scenes have unfolded across the nation. A boat debris in Juneau, Alaska, was covered in snow, while the Elvis Presley statue on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, wore a snowy coat. People took advantage of the snowfall in Washington, DC, sledding on the hills of the U.S. Capitol. The dome of the Capitol peeked beyond a snowman on the national mall.

The situation also prompted precautionary measures, with classes cancelled in major cities including Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Portland. The storm was responsible for four deaths, including two suspected hypothermia cases, a fatality caused by a falling tree, and a tragic fire in an RV caused by a tree collapse.

Although temperatures are expected to moderate midweek, a new surge of colder air is predicted to sweep across the Northern Plains and Midwest, making its way down to the Deep South by the end of the week. The severe weather conditions serve as a stark reminder of nature's unpredictable power and the importance of staying safe and prepared during such extreme events.