Meteorological security/ The biggest snowfall 

A huge blizzard barreled into the US Northeast, affecting up to 20 percent of Americans by making workers and students housebound, halting thousands of flights and prompting New York to ban cars from roads and halt subway trains.

With memories still fresh of Sandy, a superstorm that ravaged the East Coast in 2012, the governors of six East Coast states declared emergencies, and the snow blast threatened to affect up to 60 million people in nearly a dozen states.

The National Weather Service warned of a "life-threatening blizzard" that could dump as much 76 cm of snow on parts of the region. It said winds could gust up to 80 kph around New York City.

'Historic' blizzard shuts down New York City