Updated

Hundreds of thousands of Texans are in the middle of another day without power Thursday as extreme winter weather this week is now being blamed for at least 36 deaths around the U.S.

About 7 million people in Texas have been told to boil their water or stop using it entirely as homeowners, hospitals, and businesses grappled with broken water mains and burst pipes, many in areas unaccustomed to dealing with sustained frigid temperatures.

Another major winter storm is now crawling across the Eastern third of the country with a plethora of hazards. Heavy rain, thunderstorms and severe weather will be possible over sections of the Southeast and Florida while ice and snow will make travel difficult if not impossible over parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

FAST FACTS

    • At least 36 people were dead as of Thursday following wintry weather that has swept across the U.S.
    • Around 500,000 homes and businesses remain without power Thursday in Texas

Meanwhile, the frigid, dangerous cold air is going to take some time to retreat, especially across the South. The temperatures will be 20 to 30 degrees below average for a widespread swath of the Plains, which is not helpful for those who have been without power or heat for days. 

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Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean contributed to this report.