WASHINGTON: The US east coast yesterday braced for a new storm after a record snowfall left thousands of people shivering in the dark without power, transportation paralysed and the federal government shut down.

The US capital remained largely snow-locked, while many local governments, businesses and schools were also closed across the mid-Atlantic region.

People struggled to get to work, slipping on icy pavements while hundreds of emergency personnel battled to clear roads of snow.

Many of those without power gathered in restaurants and coffee shops on major avenues where power was restored first, some residents of suburban Washington spent two days huddled at businesses, unable to go home.

Snow clearing crews and reinforcements for overwhelmed power company crews drove in to the area from other states, to help.

Residents had little hope of respite from the icy, with another storm expected to dump five or more inches of snow on the area late tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service.

"We have a (new) winter storm watch out for. We are expecting in excess of five inches in 12 hours, mainly tonight night into tomorrow," NWS forecaster Matther Kramer said.

Freezing temperatures have turned plowed roads and highways into icy rinks, with black ice forming in some areas.

Warning

Many secondary roads and thoroughfares were unplowed, prompting officials to warn that travel was still hazardous.

Despite far lighter traffic than usual yesterday, the treacherous conditions and numerous accidents slowed down the morning commute, even on main roads.

"This is really challenging for us, and will continue to be a challenge for most of the week," said Laura Southard from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

"This snow is so deep and so heavy that the traditional snow plows can't shovel in some areas. So bulldozers are being used to clear a path," Southard said.

Even though the blizzard has moved away, unmasking a bright blue sky, the weather continued to claim victims.

Two men were found dead in a car on Sunday in the town of Bladensburg, Maryland, The Washington Post reported. Authorities believe they suffered carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of sitting in a closed vehicle without ventilation.

Six other people who appeared to be victims of carbon monoxide poisoning were rescued on Sunday at a house in Oxon Hill, the paper said.

The cause appeared to have been a gasoline generator used inside a house after the power went out. The deepest snow left by 'Snowmageddon' was in the small town of Colesville, central Maryland, which was buried in 40 inches of snow. Public transport is still being affected by the weather, although Metro trains slowly resumed service yesterday.