US blizzard 2016: New York begins clear-up after mammoth snowfall

Snowfall in New York City was just 0.1in (0.25cm) short of the record

A travel ban in New York City has ended as the eastern US begins digging out from the weekend's massive snowstorm.

New York, the most populated city in the US, saw its second-highest snowfall since records began in 1869, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
As five states saw snowfall of three feet (91cm) or more, the hazards of shovelling snow were brought home by at least six deaths.
A further 12 people have died in other snow-related incidents since Friday.
The storm, dubbed Snowmageddon and Snowzilla on social media, is weakening and heading for the Atlantic Ocean.
It has affected some 85 million people, cutting power to 200,000 people. The heaviest fall was recorded in Glengary, West Virginia, which had 42ins (107 cm).
In Washington DC, the metro is set to remain closed and air travel in the region faces further disruption.
Some 7,000 flights were cancelled this weekend and disruption is to continue into the working week, with at least 615 cancelled for Monday.
Elements often come together to create snow, but not always in the same way and to this extent - it was the perfect winter storm

• A low pressure system was able to transport and circulate huge amounts of moisture north from the Gulf of Mexico
• The position of the jet stream allowed a low pressure system to be picked up and drawn northwards along the eastern seaboard
• Very warm air falling into very cold air from the north and mixing meant there was only one thing that would happen - snow
• Very strong winds: low pressure moves in one direction and high pressure in another and, much like cogs in a wheel, they increased the wind
• The storm moved especially slowly, leading to more snow being dumped over a long time

 Many people have taken to streets and parks to enjoy the snow, with a giant snowball fight breaking out on Times Square, New York, overnight.