Jonas storm leaves 18 dead, 8500 flights axed in US

The East Coast is battling 'life-threatening blizzard conditions' today as one of the most powerful winter storms in living memory continues to dump feet of snow across states from northern Georgia to New Jersey, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday.

The National Weather Service warned that the worst is still to come for many areas as one in seven Americans could get at least half a foot of snow by Sunday, and Washington could see snowdrifts more than four feet high.

Ten states have now declared emergencies, more than 8,000 flights have been cancelled across the country, coastal flooding has been reported in New Jersey and motorists in Kentucky were stranded in a 35-mile jam for 12 hours overnight with National Guard distributing food, water and fuel.

A total of 18 people have died in weather-related incidents around the country, with the latest coming in Maryland where a man shoveling snow was said to have suffered a heart attack before passing away.

Source: MENA