18 dead as massive blizzard hits US east coast

Millions of Americans were preparing to dig themselves out after a mammoth blizzard with hurricane-force winds and record-setting snowfall left at least 18 people dead and brought much of the US East Coast to an icy standstill.

Travel bans barring non emergency vehicles from the roads of New York City and Baltimore were expected to be lifted and mass transit systems that had been partially suspended during the storm were scheduled to run again.