The bitterly cold weather that currently has much of the East Coast of America in its icy grip has demonstrated its chilling intensity by partially freezing Niagra Falls for the second time in just weeks.

Remarkable images taken of the falls at night show them partially frozen and lit up in an array of bright colours. The falls on the American side, which in combination with the Bridal Veil Falls usually see the passage of 567,811 Litres per second, have frozen amid temperatures of -1 degrees and lower.

Temperatures in the area fell to -23C with wind chill last week bringing the rushing waters to an icy standstill. The US East Coast is currently in the grip of a deadly winter storm that has seen near-record temperature lows, around 3,000 flights cancelled and the mass closure of schools and local government buildings.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Frozen Niagara Falls Show all 10 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Frozen Niagara Falls 1/10 Niagara Falls For the second time this winter Niagara falls has frozen to an icy halt 2/10 Niagara Falls Niagara Falls lit by colourful lights during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario 3/10 Niagara Falls A partially frozen American Falls is seen lit by lights during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario 4/10 Niagara Falls Frozen Horseshoe Falls is seen lit up during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario 5/10 Niagara Falls The flow of water over the falls typically can withstand icy temperatures however not this winter 6/10 Niagara Falls Some water still continues to flow over the Falls despite the frigid temperatures 7/10 Niagara Falls No thaw is expected as temperatures at the western New York tourist attraction will dip below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the next few days 8/10 Niagara Falls An old hydro building is seen behind Niagara Falls during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario 9/10 Niagara Falls The atmosphere around Niagara Falls is indeed astonishing and quite eerie as the freezing temperatures create misty spectacle 10/10 Niagara Falls Icy mist rises over the Horseshoe Falls section of Niagara Falls during freezing temperatures 1/10 Niagara Falls For the second time this winter Niagara falls has frozen to an icy halt 2/10 Niagara Falls Niagara Falls lit by colourful lights during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario 3/10 Niagara Falls A partially frozen American Falls is seen lit by lights during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario 4/10 Niagara Falls Frozen Horseshoe Falls is seen lit up during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario 5/10 Niagara Falls The flow of water over the falls typically can withstand icy temperatures however not this winter 6/10 Niagara Falls Some water still continues to flow over the Falls despite the frigid temperatures 7/10 Niagara Falls No thaw is expected as temperatures at the western New York tourist attraction will dip below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the next few days 8/10 Niagara Falls An old hydro building is seen behind Niagara Falls during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario 9/10 Niagara Falls The atmosphere around Niagara Falls is indeed astonishing and quite eerie as the freezing temperatures create misty spectacle 10/10 Niagara Falls Icy mist rises over the Horseshoe Falls section of Niagara Falls during freezing temperatures

It is the latest in a series of weather systems caused by a so-called 'polar vortex' which is pummelling the winter-weary eastern United States. A polar vortex is a rotating pool of cold, dense air held in place by strong winds.

This year the polar air has slipped through the belt that usually holds it in place. This has meant plummeting temperatures as far south in the US as Alabama.

Brian Hurley, a weather service meteorologist, said temperatures would be about 30 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) below normal as a cold front settled in from Great Plains to the Atlantic coast.

"It’s really, really cold, temperatures dropping into the teens (Fahrenheit, minus-7 to minus-10 Celsius) and the normal highs are around 50 (10C) at this point," he said.

At least four weather-related traffic deaths in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee were blamed on the wide-ranging storm over the weekend.