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US snowstorm: Mammoth blizzard hits East Coast, shuts New York Blizzard blankets eastern seaboard of US in deep snow
(about 5 hours later)
A massive snowstorm has brought much of the eastern US to a standstill, affecting some 85 million people. A huge blizzard has blanketed the US eastern seaboard in snow, bringing New York and Washington DC to a standstill and affecting some 85 million people.
The blizzard has dumped 40in (102cm) of snow in some areas, with 11 states declaring emergencies. Up to 40in (102cm) of snow settled in parts, paralysing rail and air links, and cutting power to 200,000 people.
All non-essential travel is banned in New York, with officials believing it could be one of the city's worst snowstorms. A travel ban in New York, which saw its second highest snowfall on record, is set to be lifted later on Sunday.
At least 18 deaths - many from traffic accidents - have been blamed on the severe weather since Friday. At least 18 deaths, from road accidents but also snow shovelling, have been blamed on the weather since Friday.
In all, 20 states have been affected by the fierce storm. The blizzard is now lessening and heading out towards the Atlantic Ocean.
In pictures: #snowmageddon2016In pictures: #snowmageddon2016
Snowstorm as it happenedSnowstorm as it happened
What to do if it all goes wrongWhat to do if it all goes wrong
Why do so many people die shovelling snow?Why do so many people die shovelling snow?
Tens of thousands of homes are now without power and traffic jams lasting more than 12 hours were reported in Kentucky and Pennsylvania on Saturday. In other developments
In rural Virginia - parts of which had more than 30in of snow - there were more than 1,000 car crashes and two people died of hypothermia. States of emergency were declared in New York, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia
The heaviest unofficial snowfalls recorded by mid-afternoon on Saturday included: Traffic jams lasting more than 12 hours were reported in Kentucky and Pennsylvania on Saturday.
In New York, travel restrictions came into effect in the city at at 14:30 (19:30 GMT), with transport being suspended and bridges shut. The heaviest unofficial snowfalls recorded by mid-afternoon on Saturday included
Emergency vehicles and workers carrying out repairs are being allowed to use roads - but those driving non-essential vehicles risk being arrested New York's Central Park received 26.8in, the second-biggest fall recorded since 1869 and just shy of the all-time high, 26.9in, recorded in February 2006.
Almost all flights into the city have been cancelled.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said up to 28in of snow might fall, making it one of the five worst winter storms in the city.
New York's highest previous snowfall, 26.9in, was recorded in February 2006.
"This is going to be one of those generational events, where your parents talk about how bad it was," said Ryan Maue, a meteorologist with WeatherBell Analytics."This is going to be one of those generational events, where your parents talk about how bad it was," said Ryan Maue, a meteorologist with WeatherBell Analytics.
On the Pennsylvania Turnpike, several hundred people have been stranded in vehicles for almost a day. Under travel restrictions in the most populous US city, transport was suspended and bridges shut.
Among them are close to 250 students from the University of Mary in North Dakota. Monsignor James Shea, president of the university, told the BBC that "spirits are good and no-one is panicking". Emergency vehicles and workers carrying out repairs are being allowed to use roads but those driving non-essential vehicles risk being arrested.
Further south in Kentucky, a 35-mile (56km) traffic jam has cleared, after thousands of drivers found themselves stranded overnight on Interstate 75 by heavy snow and a number of accidents. Five out of six deaths attributed to the snowstorm were of people shovelling snow in New York city or state, the New York Times reports. The sixth was recorded in Maryland.
On the Pennsylvania Turnpike, two university sports teams whose buses were marooned with some 500 other vehicles had to turn and head home.
Further south in Kentucky, a 35-mile (56km) traffic jam cleared after thousands of drivers found themselves stranded on Interstate 75 by heavy snow and a number of accidents.
The Red Cross erected shelters along the highway for those left in the traffic jam.The Red Cross erected shelters along the highway for those left in the traffic jam.
In other developments:
The US federal government closed down at noon on Friday. President Barack Obama is remaining at the White House.The US federal government closed down at noon on Friday. President Barack Obama is remaining at the White House.
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. Andrew Watson, who moved to Virginia for work about six months ago, told the BBC's News Channel that travel was restricted but families were enjoying the snow.
"The roads are now impassable and where we live it's pretty much a driving town so it's hard to get anywhere right now," he said.
"We've been told not to take to the roads, which is smart because the roads aren't gritted at all so they're very treacherous. I mean everyone's making light of it and having fun. The street we're living on the kids are playing out in the street now and having a great time."
Do you live in the eastern US? Are you affected by the blizzard? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories, and if safe to do so, send us your pictures and video.Do you live in the eastern US? Are you affected by the blizzard? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories, and if safe to do so, send us your pictures and video.
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