US east coast digs out after snow

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Tens of millions of people from Virginia to Massachusetts were digging out on Wednesday after blizzards covered the area with snow.

US federal government offices remained closed for a fourth straight day as crews tried to clear the roads from snow drifts several feet deep.

Wednesday's snowfall turned this winter into the snowiest on record for Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Forecasters warned of another storm which could hit the region on Monday.

Massive disruption

Baltimore was the city hardest hit by Wednesday's blizzard recording 19in (48cm) of snow, while Philadelphia measured 16in (40cm) and 10 to 16in (25-40cm) fell in New York City.

Public schools reopened in New York on Thursday after Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered them to stay shut on Wednesday - giving them only the third snow day in six years.

Airports between Washington and New York also reopened on Thursday after thousands of flights were cancelled.

Icicles were starting to melt on this Georgetown house in Washington DC

According to a survey of airlines carried out by USA Today, the storm caused one of the biggest disruptions in air travel since the 9/11 attacks.

The Virginia Department of Transportation, which is in charge of snow removal in the state, said it spent both its $79m (£50m) snow-removal budget and its $25m (£16m) reserve fund.

It will now have to dip into its maintenance fund to ensure clearing operations can continue.

Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia have asked for funding from the federal government to help them cope with the unusually high snowfall.

Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty said the city had seen four times the average annual amount of snow this winter and praised the crews ploughing the streets for their "real heroic work".