The festive season in the U.S. city of Mobile in Alabama lost some of the sparkle as a tornado hit on Christmas day.
Trees and buildings including some homes were damaged as a major winter storm system swept through southern states.
It also caused widespread power cuts.
The wild weather caused traffic chaos in Texas.
It also contributed to the death of a man hit by a falling tree.
In Denver, Colorado the snow got a more favourable reception as people woke to a rare white Christmas.
There were similar scenes in Boston, Massachusetts where a light dusting of snow made it a picture-perfect Christmas morning.
But forecasters are warning of a bigger storm.
The snowstorm was expected to shift to the eastern Great Lakes and north-eastern region during Wednesday.
