Blizzard Jonas Pummels Eastern United States In A 'Once In A Generation' Storm | HuffPost

Eastern United States Is Being Battered By Worst Storm In Living Memory

Paul Vale— The Huffington Post UK

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More than 50 million Americans are being pummeled by a devastating wintery blast that has dumped several foot of snow across the eastern United States. Ten people have died so far in incidents related to the extreme weather.

In Washington and the surrounding areas a state of emergency was declared on Friday, with 8,000 flights cancelled and schools closed. The region could see drifts of more than four-feet. Weather warnings are in place from as far north as New York and as far south as Arkansas.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also declared a state of emergency, one of ten states suffering the brunt of the "life-threatening" conditions. On Saturday, the Big Apple was hit by winds of 60mph, with snow falling at a rate of more than three-inches per hour. The Mayor of New York, Bill De Blasio, ended all subway and bus services and ordered all traffic off the road by 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon.

In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, ordered people to "stay inside."

"Not only is the weather incredibly nasty but it is helping us keep roads passable," he said. "We have two to three inches falling an hour. Please stay inside, please don't drive today."

Road accidents have been reported through the eastern region, with police in Virginia responding to more than 1,000 calls overnight. Government agencies predict the weather could cause up to a billion dollars in damages.

The snowfall record in America stands at 28-inches, which fell over two days in January 1922. Forecasters warn this could be threatened, the Washington DC likely to be worst hit. The extreme conditions is a result of humid air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico, impacting cold air from the central northern states.

A further full day of snow is expected on Sunday in what meteorologist Ryan Maue described as "one of those generational events, where your parents talk about how bad it was.”

Blizzard 2016

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A man with an umbrella walks on Times Square during a snowstorm on January 23, 2016 in New York. (credit:FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT via Getty Images)

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A girl posing in front of the american flag on Times Square during a snowstorm on January 23, 2016 in New York. (credit:FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT via Getty Images)

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A man and his dog walks in blowing snow in Alexandria, Va., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A statue of Andrew Jackson is covered in snow near the White House, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A man operates a snow blower near the Brooklyn Bridge in the borough of Brooklyn in New York on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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People negotiate crossing the street as workers clear snow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A masked man walks on King Street as snow falls in Alexandria, Va., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A front-end loader places snow into a dump truck, as snow falls, in Alexandria, Va., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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People walk in the snow toward Chinatown's Friendship Archway, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Snow is seen partially covering a street sign at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. near the White House, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Headstones are nearly covered by snow at Arlington National Cemetery, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 in Arlington, Va. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A man makes his way through the snow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 in the Georgetown area of Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A man uses cross country skies as he goes down M Street NW in the snow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 in the Georgetown area of Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Jared Meyer of Chattanooga, Tenn., digs out his car from the snow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 in Arlington, Va. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Two people use cross country skis to get around the snow in front of the U.S. Capitol, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 in Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Astronaut Scott Kelly: 'Massive #snowstorm blanketing #EastCoast clearly visible from @Space_Station! Stay safe! #blizzard2016 #YearInSpace' (credit:@StationCDRKelly)

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Dogs are walked during heavy snow fall and strong wind gusts in Central Park on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (credit:Astrid Riecken via Getty Images)

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A man walks on a snow covered sidewalk on January 23, 2016 in New York. (credit:DON EMMERT via Getty Images)

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Dog owners and runners go through heavy snow fall and strong wind gusts in Central Park on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (credit:Astrid Riecken via Getty Images)

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A car spins out of control on Central Park West Avenue and West 81 street during heavy snow fall on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (credit:Astrid Riecken via Getty Images)

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A van drives through a flooded street as ice and snow prevent drainage Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Atlantic City, N.J. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A photo taken on January 23, 2016 shows a snow covered car in the northwest of Washington, DC. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)

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An Atlantic City police officer drives through a flooded street early Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Atlantic City. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A worker uses a snow blower to clear snow from the front walkway of an apartment building on Connecticut Avenue in the northwest of Washington, DC on January 23, 2016. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)

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A photo taken on January 23, 2016 shows snow-covered cars lining a residential street in the northwest of Washington, DC. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)

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A walks in the street during a snowstorm January 22, 2016 in New York. (credit:FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT via Getty Images)

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A man pushing a snow plough during a snowstorm January 22, 2016 in New York. (credit:FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT via Getty Images)

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A man throwing salt in front of the building during a snowstorm January 22, 2016 in New York. (credit:FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT via Getty Images)

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The White House is seen during a snowstorm in Washington January 22, 2016. (credit:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)

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The White House is seen during a snowstorm in Washington January 22, 2016. (credit:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)

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Workers clear snow along a sidewalk during a snowstorm in Washington January 22, 2016. (credit:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)

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Workers clean the snow from a street during a snowstorm in Downtown Washington, DC January 22, 2016. (credit:MLADEN ANTONOV via Getty Images)

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Workers repair an electric pole during a snowstorm in Washington on January 22, 2016. (credit:MLADEN ANTONOV via Getty Images)

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The Albert Einstein Memorial outside of the National Academy of Sciences is seen under snowfall on January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)

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Rental bicycles are seen under a layer of snow on January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)

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The Martin Luther King Junior Memorial is seen under snowfall on January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)

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A Secret Service Uniformed Division patrol car is seen in front of the White House under snowfall on January 22, 2016 in Washington. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)

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A man walks past a restaurant during a snowstorm January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. (credit:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)

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A worker clears snow from a sidewalk during a snowstorm January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. (credit:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)

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A person waits to cross a street during a snowstorm in Washington on January 22, 2016. (credit:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)

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This image taken by NOAA's GOES-East satellite on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. EST, and released by NASA, shows a winter snowstorm over the east coast of the United States. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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In this image taken with a fisheye lens, snow is removed from in front of Bridgestone Arena, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn., where the NHL All Star game will be held Jan. 31. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A Virginia State police officer and a tow truck operator work an accident along interstate 95 near Richmond, Va., Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A pedestrian crosses 9th Street as the snow falls, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Washington. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A pedestrian walks his dog in the median of Monument Avenue in Richmond, Va., Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A man walks across an empty street Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Daron Anderson walks down an empty snow-covered street to check on the condition of a relative, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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A lone jogger runs in the snow near the Adler Planetarium and Monroe Harbor on Lake Michigan Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Chicago. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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People walk toward the Washington Monument as snow begins to blanket Washington, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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People cross a nearly-empty Broadway, in the honky-tonk and entertainment district of Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Residents of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington flock to Frager's Hardware, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in preparation for the anticipated blizzard heading to the the Eastern U.S. and threatening the District of Columbia with two feet of snow. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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