Severe weather has continued to affect swathes of Europe with forecasts for heavy snowfall from Spain in the west to Ukraine in the east, and caused transport disruptions.

US East Coast:

Winter storm is gripping the eastern US, dumping up to 16in (40cm) of snow in some areas, snarling up travel and cutting power supplies.

Incidents thought to be storm-related claimed five lives and forecasters warned of 35mph (56km/h) winds in what may be the worst snowstorm in a decade.

Record snowfall totals were reported Saturday at Washington Dulles and Reagan National airports.
The 16in which fell at Reagan National Airport outside Washington was the most ever recorded on a single December day, set December 17, 1932.   Reagan airport was shut down for the night, most flights from Baltimore were cancelled and there were long delays for passengers using Philadelphia and New York.

Snowploughs cleared the runway at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Washington as President Barack Obama returned from climate talks in Copenhagen. The White House said Obama rode in a motorcade back to the White House, instead of taking his helicopter, because of the conditions.

The storm system is moving north toward New York and Boston.

Europe:

In the UK, severe weather warnings have been issued as high winds and sub-zero temperatures create blizzard conditions. Heavy snowfall forced Gatwick and London City airports to temporarily close their runways on Sunday night.
All flights in and out of Manchester Airport have been put on hold for the time being because of heavy snowfall.
In addition, some flights to the US have been cancelled because of a snowstorm on the east coast.
The cancelled US flights have caused major delays for passengers in both directions.

In Germany is Dusseldorf Airport closed by heavy snowfall.
In Belgium are the airports Brussel, Antwerpen and Oostende closed.

Amsterdam Schiphol has delays of one to two hours.