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US snowstorm: Millions in path of huge blizzard US snowstorm: Massive US blizzard advances north
(about 2 hours later)
A huge blizzard has begun to hit the US east coast and is expected to dump near-record levels of snow from Washington to New York. A massive blizzard bringing more than 2ft (61cm) of snow and punishing winds is advancing up the US East Coast.
More than 50 million people have been warned a "potentially paralysing storm" will drop up to 30in (76cm) of snow in hours. More than 50 million people across more than a dozen states have been warned to stay at home as it moves north.
Southern states are already blanketed under 8ins and snow began falling in the nation's capital at lunchtime. The nation's capital, Washington, could lie under a record 30in (76cm) of snow by the time the storm passes on Sunday.
Thousands of flights have been cancelled and people told to stay home. Eight people have been killed, six states have declared states of emergency and thousands of flights have been cancelled.
The weather system affects a huge swath of the country, from Arkansas in the south to Massachusetts in the north-east, with eight people killed so far. The weather system affects a huge swathe of the country, from Arkansas in the south to Massachusetts in the north-east.
A rush for supplies led to long queues and empty shelves at supermarkets on Friday. Supermarkets ran out of food amid a rush for supplies before the first snowflakes fell on Friday.
How to prepare for a snowstormHow to prepare for a snowstorm
Washington is expected to be worst-hit. Mayor Muriel Bowser warned residents of 30ins of snow - that would beat the city's record of 28in (71cm) that fell during a two-day period in 1922.
"I want to be very clear with everybody, we see this as a major storm. It has life and death implications," she said.
High winds could compound problems, with 30mph (50km/h) winds forecast for Manhattan on Saturday, and even stronger gusts in Washington and Baltimore.
In summary:In summary:
Washington's mayor, Muriel Bowser, said this was a major storm with "life and death implications".
On Friday afternoon, as the first snow fell in Washington, the National Weather Service said it could be one of the worst storms in the city's history.
Residents in the capital and surrounding suburbs in Virginia and Maryland have been warned the snowfall could eclipse the district's record of 28in that fell during a two-day period in 1922.
As the weather system approached the country's most populous city, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to be ready.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican presidential candidate, returned from the campaign trail in New Hampshire to take charge of snow preparation.
Why do so many people die shovelling snow?Why do so many people die shovelling snow?
10 weird things Americans are doing in the snow10 weird things Americans are doing in the snow
As the weather system approached the country's most populous city, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to be ready. Catholics in Washington, Baltimore, and Delaware were told by archdiocese officials that missing Mass this Sunday was excusable given the terrible conditions.
"We're bracing for the first big storm of the winter. I want to let my fellow New Yorkers know we're prepared, the agencies here are ready for what's coming up ahead," he said. Supermarket shelves in many areas were laid bare. In Baltimore, shopper Sharon Brewington remembered how she and her daughter were left with just noodles and water when the last big snowstorm struck in 2010.
Facing criticism for saying he would be staying on the presidential campaign trail, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie reversed course, tweeting: "I'm sorry, [New Hampshire] but I gotta go home - we got snow coming." "I'm not going to make that mistake again," she said.
National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini said the system had "the potential of being an extremely dangerous storm that could affect over 50 million people".National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini said the system had "the potential of being an extremely dangerous storm that could affect over 50 million people".
He added: "We are talking about a potentially paralysing storm that is already setting up."
Boston, which bore the brunt of repeated snowstorms last year, is expected to escape relatively lightly this time, with just a few inches.
Do you live on the US east coast? How are you preparing for the blizzard? Or do you live somewhere else in the world that receives a lot of snow? If so, how do you prepare? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments.Do you live on the US east coast? How are you preparing for the blizzard? Or do you live somewhere else in the world that receives a lot of snow? If so, how do you prepare? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments.
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