Snow storm moves on but leaves much of US shivering

A winter storm that brought record snowfall to large parts of the US is dying out but many states are still seeing below-freezing weather.

Parts of the Midwest have been among the worst-hit regions, and saw some 45cm (18in) of snow on Thursday.

Emergency crews are still searching for 16 elk hunters stranded in northern Arizona since earlier this week.

Freezing temperatures will continue in many areas on Friday and another storm system is brewing in the west.

Blizzards have been blamed for 16 deaths this week, most in traffic accidents.

In pictures: N America snow

Wisconsin declared a state of emergency after being hit by up to 48cm (19in) of snow on Wednesday, while Iowa recorded its worst snowfall for 20 years.

Searchers headed out again on Thursday in northern Arizona to look for elk hunters trapped when up to 3ft of snow fell on Monday and Tuesday.

A local sheriff's spokesman told the Associated Press news agency the priority was to find them before the next storm hits, possibly at the weekend.

Rescuers are looking for 16 people in five parties. Some 50 people have already been rescued.

"The storm just hit when everybody was out in the field," sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair told AP.

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