The US snow storm

Snow storm blankets parts of Canada and US

Radio NZ,

4 January, 2014

A winter storm has blanketed parts of Canada and the north-eastern United States with up to 61cm of snow.

The storm has been blamed for 11 deaths and forced the cancellation of more than 4000 flights since Wednesday.

With the wind chill, the temperature dropped as low as -29 Celsius in Toronto and -38C in Quebec City, the lowest seen in two decades.

Authorities warned residents to remain indoors, both for their own safety and to keep roads clear for snow removal.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was sworn into office on 1 January, said most of the city's main roads had been cleared of snow thanks to an "extraordinary job" by the city's sanitation workers.

Some commuter trains around New York City were on a reduced schedule, while some key roads were shut at least temporarily.

In the neighbouring states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey, non-essential state workers were ordered to remain at home.