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Live Reporting

Tim Swift, Tom Geoghegan and Vanessa Barford

All times stated are UK

  1. Blizzard returns to Washington

    And that's it from our live updates from the snowstorm in the US. Thanks for staying with us.

    As we sign off, snow is falling again in the nation's capital, as you'll see from the 360 below tweeted by the BBC's Sarah Holmes.

    View more on twitter
  2. What we know so far

    Residents clear snow from their car during a heavy snow fall in Arlington, Virginia

    Heavy snow and blizzard conditions are persisting across the East Coast, with 85 million people affected and up to 3ft (90 cm) of snow dumped in some places.

    Here's what's happened so far:

    • At least 11 people have died, with emergencies declared in 11 states and 20 states affected.
    • All non-essential travel has been banned in New York, with transport suspended. Those driving non-essential vehicles risk being arrested.
    • In Washington all mass transit is to be closed until Monday.
    • Tens of thousands of people are without power across New Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina.
    • Motorists have been stranded for hours along pockets of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
    • More than 5,500 flights to, from or within the US have been cancelled this weekend.
  3. Cars completely covered by snow

    BBC Radio 5 live has been asking people for their snowbound video stories.

    Here's what they got - including a street in Washington where cars are completely buried.

  4. The pause before the next blizzard

    In some parts of DC, such as outside the US Capitol, the clear up was already under way earlier, before another blizzard struck.

    A bulldozer clears snow in front the US Capitol, DC
    A Capitol police car stuck in snow
    Image caption: The Capitol police needed assistance
  5. Sledging on the Rocky Steps

    Sledgers have taken to the Rocky Steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Pennsylvania. 

    Philadelphia Art Museum steps are crowded with sledgers as snow continues to fall
  6. Hitting the slopes

    For some skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, the huge snow dump has proved too tempting to stay indoors.

    A man jumps on a snow board as snow falls in New York.
    Image caption: A man jumps on a snow board as snow falls in New York.
    A couple go cross country skiing in Central Park.
    Image caption: A couple go cross country skiing in Central Park.
    A woman carries a snowboard across DC.
    Image caption: A woman carries a snowboard in DC.
  7. What makes a blizzard a blizzard?

    Snow in Forest Hill, Maryland

    The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm which contains large amounts of snow or blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph (16km/h) and visibility of less than 1/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours). The word used to refer to a cannon shot or a volley of musket fire, according to AccuWeather, but started to be used to describe snowstorms in the 1870s.

  8. Pictures from the snow storm

    Hundreds of people are sharing their pictures of #snowmageddon2016 online.

    Angus Broad
    Image caption: Two-year-old Angus Broad was nearly buried in Washington, standing 37 inches tall
    Richard Glover sent this image from Morgantown, West Virginia
    Image caption: Richard Glover sent this image from Morgantown, West Virginia
    Students at University of Mary in North Dakota huddled together for a snow selfie
    Image caption: Students at University of Mary in North Dakota huddled together for a snow selfie
  9. Snowfall totals so far

    Headstones are nearly covered by snow at Arlington National Cemetery
    Image caption: Headstones are nearly covered by snow at Arlington National Cemetery
    • Martinsburg, West Virginia: 31.9in (79cm)
    • Clarksburg, Maryland: 27.2in
    • Alexandria Virginia: 17in
    • Washington: 16in
    • Baltimore, Maryland: 16in
    • Charlottesville, Virginia: 14in
    • Hoboken, New Jersey: 12in 
    • Brooklyn, New York: 8in

    Source: National Weather Service as of 17:30 GMT 

  10. The city that never sleeps...

    ...is getting mighty drowsy

    Times Square
    Image caption: All hands on deck in Times Square
    Road sign in New York
    Image caption: All roads, bridge and tunnels in the biggest US city are shut
    The Lincoln Center in New York
    Image caption: The Lincoln Center in New York is blanketed
  11. The storm isn't over in Washington

    After a lull in the early afternoon in Washington, the blizzard roared back with high winds and heavy snow. Here, a reporter for Buzzfeed filmed the scene in Washington's Adams Morgan neighborhood. 

    View more on twitter
  12. What is thundersnow?

    There have been reports of "thundersnow" in parts of the US. For those furrowing their brows in confusion, the meteorological phenomenon is basically the same as a thunderstorm, except that snow falls instead of rain. It occurs when the atmosphere is unstable and the layer of air closest to the ground is cold enough to create snow, but still warmer than the air above it. 

    Read more here. 

  13. Washington ghost town

    The BBC's Laura Bicker, in Washington DC, reports on the storm sweeping the US.

    Video content

    Video caption: The BBC's Laura Bicker reports on the snowstorm sweeping the US
  14. Flooding, not snow, in southern New Jersey

    A full moon, high tide and the massive winter storm hitting the US east coast combined to cause significant flooding in southern New Jersey's seaside towns. Waves of 22ft (7m) and a storm surge of two to three feet were reported on Saturday morning.

    Flooding in Cape May, New Jersey
    Flooding in Stone Harbor, New Jersey
  15. Emergency vehicles not immue

    Even a massive fire engine was no match for unploughed snow along 12th Street in northwest Washington on Saturday. At one point, the firemen used their axes as (ineffective) makeshift shovels. It took a few hours for the engine to get moving again.

    Fire truck stranded on 12th Street in Northwest Washington
  16. Broadway cancelled

    Broadway in New York

    They say the show must go on... but not this weekend.

    All matinee and evening Broadway shows on Saturday have been cancelled.

    Charlotte St. Martin, the president of The Broadway League, said "normal operations to resume for tomorrow's Sunday matinees".