US east coast hit by catastrophic snow storm

A massive snow storm sweeping across the U.S east coast has forced state of emergency in states on the east coast.

Schools and offices have been closed; flights are grounded and there is power outage in several areas from the Mid-Atlantic to New England.

Authorities declared snow emergency in Washington as snow, sleet and freezing rain made the roads extremely dangerous to drive on. All flights at Reagan Washington National Airport were also canceled.

Meanwhile in New York, state officials warned of season’s heaviest snowfall, with significant impacts expected in and around New York City. 

According to meteorologists, the storm was being driven by an Arctic air mass colliding with moisture-laden Atlantic systems, an unpredictable combination producing not only snow, but sleet and freezing rain.

More than 1 million customers lost power in several states as heavy snow brought down power lines and trees.

Rail travel was also severely disrupted and key interstate highways were restricted due to poor visibility and slippery roads.

National Guard units were put on standby to assist with emergency transport and recovery operations. Heating shelters were opened to protect people from extreme cold, with health authorities warning of risks of frostbite and hypothermia. The snow storm’s effects are, reportedly, expected to linger into the coming week.