At least 8 dead in US over record blizzard conditions

A potentially record-setting blizzard has killed at least eight people in the US as it continues to surge across the East Coast, threatening to leave some areas under more than 100cm of snow.

More than 85 million people in at least 20 states are in the path of the worsening storm, which is set to "supercharge" as it travels on towards the Atlantic.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the storm could be one of the worst to ever hit the city and is considering a full travel ban.

In a press conference, he urged residents not to drive and stay indoors. The NYC Mayor's Office tweeted: "This is bad and getting worse rapidly".

Six people have been killed in traffic accidents on icy roads in North Carolina, CNN reported.

Treacherous driving conditions have also lead to the death of a man in Virginia; another death has been reported in Kentucky, the Richmond Times reported.

A massive winter storm clobbered the eastern United States on Saturday and in some places appeared poised to dump more snow than expected -- including up to 30 inches in downstate New York and up to 4 feet in Maryland and West Virginia, officials and forecasters said.

With snow falling as fast as 3 inches an hour, New York officials said road travel in New York City and Long Island would be banned starting at 2:30 pm ET. Above-ground train service in the area would stop at 4 pm.

Source: MENA