Blizzards add to snow chaos in north-eastern US

Blizzards have hit cities in the north-eastern US, with government offices staying shut for a third day.

In Washington DC and neighbouring Montgomery County ploughing operations were part suspended "because of the hazardous weather conditions".

The National Guard announced it had called on 200 of its members to help clear streets in the capital.

Baltimore banned all but emergency vehicles from driving on city streets.

The National Weather Service said heavy snow and winds gusting at up to 60mph from Virginia to New York could make attempts to travel life-threatening. The blizzards have come as the region is still dealing with days of heavy snow.

The Federal Aviation Authority said Dulles Airport near Washington DC would shut down for 24 hours due to the adverse conditions.

Schools closed in New York, for only the third time in six years, and the United Nations said it had closed its headquarters in the city.

The storm arrived from the west, where as much as 17in (43cm) of snow fell in the state of Iowa.

Votes cancelled

As the storm closed in on the north-eastern US late on Tuesday, people raced to clear existing snow and stockpile food.

Philadelphia was expecting up to 19in (48cm) of snow and Baltimore as much as 20in (51cm), according to the National Weather Service.

WASHINGTON SNOWSTORMS
More than 1ft of snow has fallen only 14 times since 1870
Heaviest on record is 28in in January 1922
Worst snowfall is believed to have hit in 1772, before records began, with as much as 3ft


In Washington, federal agencies are shut and the House of Representatives has called off all votes for this week.

The Senate is due to resume work on Thursday.

The government closure is estimated to be costing $100m (£64m) a day in lost productivity and other costs.

Many of the region's schools are closed, with some cancelling classes for the rest of the week.

Transport has been widely disrupted, with airports in Washington shutting early on Tuesday. Many airlines have also cancelled flights for Wednesday.

Washington's bus system has ground to a halt and its subway was partly suspended. Thousands of houses have remained without power in the Washington area.