Snowzilla: At least 19 dead in US blizzard

Snowmageddon: Record levels of snow in the passage of Storm Jonas claims lives in the United States

Gale force winds have immobilized Washington, New York and other US states killing at least 19 people in the United States. In New York City, it was the second biggest storm ever recorded, dumping 68 cm of snow by midnight on Saturday (the record was 68.3 cm in 2006).

Weather-related crashes took place in Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virgnia. One person died in Maryland and three in New York City while show was shoveled out. Two died of hypothermia in Virginia.

The storm unexpectedly strengthened as it reached NYC with the blizzard dropping snow from the Gulf Coast to New England. In Washington, it surpassed 76cm, but the heaviest unofficial report was in the rural area of West Virginia not far from Harpers Ferry where snow was 1 meter deep.

A snowplough clears snow on Lexington Avenue.