US snowstorm: Millions in path of huge blizzard

A huge blizzard has begun to hit the US east coast and is expected to dump near-record levels of snow from Washington to New York.

More than 50 million people have been warned a "potentially paralysing storm" will drop up to 30ins (76cm) of snow in hours.

Southern states are already blanketed under 8ins and snow began falling in the nation's capital at lunchtime.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled and people told to stay home.

The weather system affects a huge swath of the country, from Arkansas in the south to Massachusetts in the north-east, with eight people killed so far.

A rush for supplies led to long queues and empty shelves at supermarkets.

How to prepare for a snowstorm

Washington is expected to be worst-hit. Mayor Muriel Bowser warned residents of 30ins of snow - that would beat the city's record of 28in (71cm) that fell during a two-day period in 1922.

"I want to be very clear with everybody, we see this as a major storm. It has life and death implications," she said.