The storm is caused by something known as a "
polar vortex". The jetstream is in an unusual place, and it's fueling these anomalous temperatures as well.
With all of the snow creating a higher than usual albedo in the US, this will slow the process for the storm to dissipate, unfortunately. Plus, all of the heat being trapped from the reflectivity of our snow's albedo will go into the atmosphere, and may cause a more pronounced greenhouse effect.
A visual of what's happening:
The pinkish line with arrows is the jetstream. The bending is partly due to the storm's rotational force.
(a) is how it's normally suppose to be, (b) is the development of the anomaly, and (c) is the continuation of (b), but at a noticeably higher bend.