Record snowfall buries New York

A record-breaking storm buried sections of the US north east under more than two feet of snow today, leaving thousands of travellers stranded.

The National Weather Service said 26.9 inches of snow had fallen in New York’s Central Park, the most since record-keeping started in 1869.

The old record was 26.4in in December 1947.

Winds gusting at up to 60mph blew the snow sideways and raised the risk of coastal flooding in New England.

In a rare display, lightning lit up the falling snow before dawn in the New York and Philadelphia areas, producing muffled winter thunder.