Storm dumps foot of snow from Mid-Atlantic to New England

NEW YORK: Millions of Americans braved a miserable commute across the East coast Wednesday after a fierce storm dumped more than a foot of snow from the Mid-Atlantic to New England.
The federal government stumbled back to work as bitter wind chills kept temperatures 10 to 25 degrees below average with hundreds of flights canceled and roads still icy.
In New York, the mercury would not rise beyond 14 Fahrenheit (-10 Celsius) but bone-chilling gusts would make it feel as low as -13 Fahrenheit, the National Weather Service said.
More than 1,700 plows were to be mobilized across America’s biggest city Tuesday night to clear up to 10 inches of snow.
In Washington DC, it was back to work for the federal government, which told civil servants—who already had Monday off for the Martin Luther King holiday—to stay home Tuesday.
On Wednesday, federal agencies were to open two hours late. Employees could also take unscheduled leave, and those that can were allowed to work from home.
Chicago residential areas were still digging out Wednesday after being dumped with six to 12 inches of snow, canceling hundreds of flights and slowing trains, an AFP reporter said.
Philadelphia recorded up to 14 inches of snow on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.