US snowstorm: Mammoth blizzard shuts New York City

The storm is likely to be one of the biggest to ever hit New York City

All non-essential travel has been banned in New York, transport suspended and bridges shut as the city is hit by one of its worst snowstorms.

Parts of the eastern United States have received 71cm (28in) of snowfall in a huge blizzard that is sweeping across the region.
Travel restrictions in New York came into place at 14:30 (19:30 GMT).
Mayor Bill de Blasio said up to 25in snow may fall, making it one of the five worst winter storms in the city.
Heavy snow began falling on Friday across more than 20 states, affecting some 85 million people.
At least 11 people have died and emergencies declared in 11 states.
Tens of thousands of homes are without power. Traffic jams lasting more than 12 hours have been reported in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
The nation's capital, Washington, could lie under a record 30in (76cm) of snow by the time the storm passes on Sunday. At the White House, 13in (33cm) of snow fell overnight.
The heaviest snowfalls recorded so far (up to 09:00 eastern time, 14:00 GMT) include:

• 28in (71cm) - Terra Alta, West Virginia
• 24in (61cm) - Philippi, West Virginia; Oakland, Maryland
• 23in (58cm) - Ridgeley, Maryland; Champion and Marklesburg, Pennsylvania

The weather system affects a huge swathe of the country, from Alabama in the south to Massachusetts in the north-east.
In the latest developments in New York:

• Almost all flights into New York have been cancelled, according to flightaware.com
• Emergency vehicles and workers carrying out repairs will be allowed to use roads - but those driving non-essential vehicles risk being arrested
• Governor Andrew Cuomo said above-ground rail services would be suspended from 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT)
• Mr Cuomo, who declared a state of emergency on Saturday, warned some rail lines were already freezing over
• All Broadway shows on Saturday are cancelled, Mr de Blasio announced
• In a news conference, Mr de Blasio urged citizens to get off the road. "This is bad and getting worse rapidly," his office tweeted.

"This is going to be one of those generational events, where your parents talk about how bad it was," said Ryan Maue, a meteorologist with WeatherBell Analytics.