Called 'Snowzilla', the blizzard propelled by tropical- storm-force winds that brought much of US Northeast to a standstill and left as much as three feet of snow, paralysing transport links in New York and Washington DC.
The monster snowstorm has affected some 85 million people and cutting power to 200,000 people. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, stranding thousands of passengers.
At least 18 people were killed in incidents blamed on the weather - from car crashes, shoveling snow and hypothermia as the blizzard dumped between 15-25 inches of snow across the region.
The New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned drivers of non-emergency vehicles that they would be subject to arrest if they violated the travel ban.
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"New Yorkers should head home now. We need cars off the road so that our equipment can do its work and keep streets passable for emergency vehicles. Travel conditions are dangerous, and we want to keep all New Yorkers safe until this storm passes," Blasio said.
Metro services in Washington DC have also been stopped over the weekend.
But when he looked outside, he saw none.
"Then no more than 15 minutes later, I heard commotion out my window and I looked and I saw the raging water," he said. "It came in to the low-lying areas and it rushed fast, and it was like a tsunami."
Ocean City in New Jersey reported coastal flooding as a result of the blizzard. The New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has declared a State of Emergency.
Authorities across the East Coast have asked people to stay inside or at a safe place.
"This will be a rare event for the region as there are not many storms that bring a foot or more of snow over such a large area and last more than 24 hours," said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.
Police officials across the region said they responded to several thousand car accidents.
The National Weather Service said a powerful low pressure system will bring heavy snow and blizzard conditions from the Middle Atlantic Region all the way through southern New England.