'Near impossible' travel conditions in New York as 22 inches of snow falls on US east coast

BBC update

"NEAR impossible" travel conditions are expected in New York this morning, a state agency warns, as a major storm hits the US east coast.

Parts of the country have seen over 22 inches (55.9cm) of snowfall, with over 15 inches in New York's Central Park, the National Weather Service says.

Winter storm warnings stretch from North Carolina to northern Maine, with warnings also in place in parts of eastern Canada.

More than 5,000 flights into and out of the US have been cancelled so far on Monday, and hundreds of thousands of people are without power.

In New York City, where non-essential travel is banned until midday local time (17:00 GMT), the snow is shin-deep, Brandon Livesay reports.

Time-lapse footage shows the Empire State Building engulfed by snow overnight due to the storm.

Up to 2ft (60cm) of snow is expected in some places - here's the latest weather forecast.

It's the first time in nine years that New York City has been under a blizzard warning.