A woman walks through snow in Central Park in the Manhattan borough of New York
A woman walks through snow in Central Park, Manhattan, New York Reuters

Extreme weather conditions across the planet have caused chaos with an Arctic freeze hitting many parts of the US, drought in Calfornia and Brazil experiencing the hottest summer since records began.

Canada and the US have issued further storm warnings a day after severe weather left dozens dead and brought travel in many areas to a halt.

A statue by Tony Matelli titled "Sleepwalker" in Wellesley College, Massachusetts, was removed after more than 100 signatures were collected from an online petition citing it as inappropriate
A statue by Tony Matelli titled "Sleepwalker" in Wellesley College, Massachusetts, was removed after being called inappropriate Reuters

Among the victims was a pregnant woman in New York who was killed after being struck by a snow plough. Her baby was later delivered by caesarean section and was said to be in a critical condition.

The US National Weather Service said blizzard conditions were likely in Canada on Saturday and into Sunday.

Fires have ravaged South Australia, with Adelaide experiencing its hottest weekend on record, hitting 44.7C
Fires have ravaged South Australia, with Adelaide experiencing its hottest weekend on record, hitting 44.7C Reuters

It added: "A storm gathering strength in the eastern US is forecast to become a strong coastal winter storm for the North East this weekend."

It forecast more rain and snow in the mid-Atlantic region of the US, with New England among those expected to be worst hit.

California is experiencing its worst drought in more than 100 years
California is experiencing its worst drought in more than 100 years Reuters

In New Jersey, a record $70 million (£41m) has been spent on clearing roads of snow and ice, while the National Weather Service has recorded a large lid of ice cover the Great Lakes – the thickest since 1994, when 94% of the lakes' surface was frozen.

Brazil: Farmer Ulysses Flor, 85, stands near the skulls of some of his nearly 50 cows that died due to the prolonged drought near the city of Forest, Pernambuco state
Brazil: Farmer Ulysses Flor, 85, stands near the skulls of some of his nearly 50 cows that died due to the prolonged drought near the city of Forest, Pernambuco state Reuters

California was experiencing the opposite end of the weather barometer. The lack of rain and snow this winter has led to the severest drought in its modern history. President Obama has pledged $183 million (£109.2m) from existing federal funds for drought relief programmes in California.