World News: In Pics: 'Snowzilla' buries US cities in 40 inches of snow

(Image Courtesy Twitter.com @NumbersMuncher)

Panda Tian-Tian woke up this morning to a lot of snow & he was pretty excited about it! 🐼💕 via @NationalZoo pic.twitter.com/mGP4VoHHlI
— Leandri J van Vuuren (@Lean3JvV) January 24, 2016

New York: A massive blizzard that claimed at least 16 lives in the eastern United States finally appeared to be winding down Sunday, giving snowbound residents the chance to begin digging out.

The near-record snowstorm clobbered the eastern United States on Friday and Saturday, shutting down New York and Washington and affecting some 85 million residents.

More than 4,400 flights were cancelled, airports in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore ground to a halt, the US capital shut down transport and America's most populous city banned travel.

The 16 fatalities occurred in Arkansas, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia, while more than 200,000 people were left without power and 2,200 National Guard personnel were drafted in.

Forecasters said the storm -- dubbed 'Snowzilla' -- dumped 22.2 inches (56 centimetres) in Washington. The 25.1 inches of snow that fell in New York's Central Park, was the third highest accumulation since records began in 1869.

With the storm tapering off overnight, officials in New York planned to lift a travel ban at 7:00 am Sunday (1200 GMT) -- restoring access to roads throughout the city, and in Long Island and New Jersey.

A woman walks towards the Steamship Ferry Terminal in Woods Hole, Mass., as a snowstorm continues, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo)

Amazing clips of folks enjoying the snow #blizzard2016, this is 1 of our favs. Via @courtney_marie_02 on Instagram pic.twitter.com/ad4aoALWMx
— Apex Asylum TV (@ApexAsylum) January 24, 2016

"You never like to disrupt transportation and commerce. However, the storm was fast and furious," said New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. "This is a storm that is nothing to be trifled with."

Strong winds raised concerns of flooding for much of the east coast, the National Weather Service warned, with streets in some New Jersey coastal towns filled with water and ice.

In New York, bus services were suspended and overland commuter and subway trains were shut as Broadway cancelled performances, museums closed, shops shuttered and the region's pro sports teams rescheduled matches.

Metro and bus networks were shut down in Washington for the entire weekend, and largely shut in Philadelphia and New Jersey. Thousands of motorists were stranded for hours on highways further south.

The vast majority of flights were cancelled across much of the region, but authorities said they were working around the clock to restore operations Sunday, with the first arrivals and departures expected at midday in New York.

Ploughs struggled to clear streets, where parked cars were buried under the snow and visibility worsened Saturday as night fell and howling winds created massive snowdrifts.

Reagan National and Dulles International airports in the US capital were expected to remain closed through Sunday.

Officials said the storm, which forecasters predicted would end by early Sunday in the Washington area, could cause more than $1 billion in damage.

The Chrysler building is seen n January 23, 2016 in New York City. The Northeast and parts of the South are experiencing heavy snow and ice from a slow-moving winter storm. (AFP Photo)

Watch the snow pile up #timelapse #blizzard2016 https://t.co/3xY2eINaQ5
— Albie Vegas Realtor (@AlbieVas) January 24, 2016

Amid the hardship there was a moment of levity provided by Tian Tian, the baby panda at the National Zoo in Washington. Footage of the panda rolling in the snow quickly went viral.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican presidential contender, left the campaign trail to oversee the emergency response in his snowbound state, where he said there were 90,000 power outages.

"For folks who lose power, please, given how cold the weather is, try to go and shelter in the home of a friend or family member if you can. Don't stay in the cold," he told a news conference.

Nearly 120,000 power outages were reported in North Carolina, emergency officials said.

A bike is buried near Bryant Park as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

In Washington the national monuments, Capitol building and Smithsonian museum were all closed.

Even a massive snowball fight in Washington's Dupont Circle, which 3,000 people said on Facebook they would attend, was postponed until Sunday due to the storm's ferocity.

"We just came back from some holidays in India so the weather is a difficult adjustment," said Justin Wilcox, 32, out taking selfies in the capital.

Snow and sleet also hit the southern states of Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia -- unusual for the region.

Pedestrians walk through the snowy streets of the Upper East Side as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Commuters pass through Grand Central Terminal on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Pedestrians walk through the snowy streets of the Upper East Side as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

A Metro-North train, covered in snow, is seen at Grand Central Terminal on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Pedestrians walk through the snowy streets near Times Square as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Pedestrians walk through the snowy streets of the Upper East Side as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Pedestrians walk by O'Lunney's Times Square Pub, one of the only bars and restaurants open in the area as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Pedestrians walk through the snowy streets near Times Square as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

A sign hangs outside Bryant Park as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

A woman decorates a snowman in Times Square as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Pedestrians walk through the snowy streets as all cars but emergency vehicles are banned from driving on the road on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

The Steamship Authority Ferry waits to depart Woods Hole, Mass., as a snowstorm continues, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo)

A couple takes a stroll in Riverside Park which is covered in snow after a day of constant snow fall on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Two young men run along West 83 street which is covered in snow after a day of constant snow fall on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Crews clear sidewalks during a day of constant snow fall on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

Snow removal crews stay ahead of the minimal snowfall from a winter storm in downtown Worcester, Mass., on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (Paul Kapteyn/Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP)

People enjoy the snow at Riverside Park after a day of constant snow fall on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

A couple walks through Quincy Market as snow beings to fall in Boston, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A massive winter storm buried much of the U.S. East Coast in a foot or more of snow by Saturday, (AP Photo)

A seal pokes it's head above the surface of New Bedford, Mass., harbor as a snowstorm continues Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo)

Snow equipement is kept at the House Carriage Entrance of the U.S. Capitol during a white-out situation January 23, 2016 in Washington, DC. (AFP Photo)

Emergency Vehicles in the empty streets in Chelsea during blizzard conditions on January 23, 2016 in New York, United States. (AFP Photo)

A car completely buried in snow in Chelsea during blizzard conditions on January 23, 2016 in New York, United States. (AFP Photo)

An FDNY ambulance gets stuck in the snow in Chelsea during blizzard conditions on January 23, 2016 in New York, United States. (AFP Photo)

A news crew reports in Chelsea during blizzard conditions on January 23, 2016 in New York, United States. (AFP Photo)

Emergency Vehicles in the empty streets in Chelsea during blizzard conditions on January 23, 2016 in New York, United States.(AFP Photo)

A man pulls two sleds as he walks by the East Front of the U.S. Capitol January 23, 2016 in Washington, DC. (AFP Photo)

Local residents Amber Neightengale (L) and Marisa Pace (R) sled down the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on a kayak January 23, 2016 in Washington, (AFP Photo)

A member of Architect of the Capitol clears snow on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol January 23, 2016 in Washington, DC. (AFP Photo)

A statue of St. Francis is covered with snow at the St. Francis de sales Caholic Church, January 23, 2016 in Benedict, Maryland. (AFP Photo)

Ben and Lindsey Hollister take a walk in heavy snow and wind on Chaneyville Road, January 23, 2016 in Owings, Maryland. (AFP Photo)

People walk in the snow on January 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (AFP Photo)

A woman crosses the street in front of a snow plow on January 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (AFP Photo)

Philadelphia Art Museum steps are crowded with sledders as snow continues to fall on January 23, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP Photo)

A family sleds down the Philadelphia Art Museum steps as snow continues to fallon January 23, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP Photo)

Residents clear snow from their car during a heavy snow fall January 23, 2016 in Arlington, Virginia. (AFP Photo)

A man uses a snow blower to clear snow during a winter storm in Washington January 23, 2016. (Reuters Photo)

Snow covers up cars on a side street on January 23, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. Heavy snow continued to fall in the the Mid-Atlantic region causing blizzard conditions and affecting millions of people. (AFP Photo)

Families sled on a hill in Rock Creek Park on January 23, 2016 in Washington, D.C.. (AFP Photo)

Snow covers shopping carts outside a grocery store on January 23, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (AFP Photo)

An Amish man drives his buggy through heavy snow and wind January 23, 2016 in Mechanicsville, Maryland. (AFP Photo)

Workers shovel a parking lot behind a business on January 23, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (AFP Photo)

Central Park is covered in snow on January 23, 2016 in New York City.(AFP Photo)

Visitors stroll through Central Park on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

A woman carefully enters Columbia Circle subway stop on January 23, 2016 in New York City. (AFP Photo)

People get on the elevated train, one of the only two train lines in operation, in Philadelphia as snow continues to fall on January 23, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP Photo)

Men jog in blizzard-like conditions on January 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (AFP Photo)

A man shovels his car out in blizzard-like conditions on January 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (AFP Photo)

Haley Griffin plays snowball catch with a friend's dog Tallulah, as her dog Piglet, center, looks on in the Parkview neighborhood on January 23, 2016 in Washington, DC.(AFP Photo)

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