A major snow storm has forced hundreds of flight cancellations at US airports, creating travel misery as thousands return home after Christmas.
The northeast is braced for a 'dangerous' storm that is forecast to move northward along 1,600km of the eastern coast of the United States. 'Significant' levels of snowfall are expected, the National Weather Service said.
Crews have pre-treated roads with salt and prepared emergency vehicles in Washington, which was paralysed for days by record snow falls earlier this year.
The US capital looks set to escape the worst of the conditions this time around, but blizzard warnings have been issued for coastal New England, Connecticut, the northern New Jersey shore and New York City.
The storm is expected to dump up to 15 inches (38cm) of snow on the Big Apple and up to 22 inches (55cm) on Boston by Monday morning.
The storm is already bringing misery to travellers hoping to return home from their Christmas holidays. Many airlines waived fees for changing flights.
Delta Airlines said one sixth of its flights around the country- 850 flights - had been cancelled today.
Continental Airlines cancelled 265 departures, primarily from Newark Liberty International Airport, outside New York. It warned, though that most domestic and international flights later Sunday through mid-morning Monday would be cancelled due to the disruption at its main hub.
United Airlines has already cancelled 110 flights - in Boston, Philadelphia and the three main New York airports: Newark, LaGuardia and John F Kennedy International.
Southwest Airlines also cancelled flights, mainly to and from Dulles International Airport and Baltimore Washington International Airport outside Washington, as well as Newark.
Ice and snow has already snarled road traffic in several southeastern states, including Georgia's northern mountains where six inches of snow were reported on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, Americans in the deep south were treated to a very rare white Christmas yesterday.
Snow blanketed communities in the southern Gulf states of Alabama and Mississippi, while Atlanta, Georgia reportedly enjoyed its first snowy Christmas in 128 years.
Snowfalls are expected to break records in the normally mild south, where thrilled youngsters were surprised by the winter weather.
