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bringing hurricane-force winds and 90cm (36ins) of snow barrels down on the north-east. Non-emergency vehicles have been banned on New York City's 6,000 miles of roads after 23:00 local time.
"Recognise this as an emergency, this is not business as usual," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Heavy snowfall is forecast from Philadelphia to Maine, falling up to four inches an hour in some areas.
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts have declared states of emergency and 50 million people are expected to wake up to a foot of snow on Tuesday.
In other developments:
Glenn Field of the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts, told the BBC on Monday afternoon that the storm will be worse than previously thought.
Hurricane-force winds of up to 80 mph (129km/h) will batter Cape Cod, the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, he said.
A tugboat on the East River with an obscured skyline behind
Workers lay salt on the city's walkways
Stocks of water are running low in some New York shops
Mr Field said the heaviest snowfall will come in the early hours of Tuesday, with 15 inches expected between 0100 and 0500 local time, and 30 inches in total in parts of Massachusetts.
During a Monday afternoon press conference, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to stay out of the way of the 2,300 snowploughs clearing city streets.
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BBC Weather explains the causes behind the coming blizzard
"You can't underestimate this storm," the city's mayor said. "What you are going to see in a few hours in something that is going to hit very hard and very fast."
Similar bans for non-emergency vehicles will be in effect later this evening for the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts and would be likely in the rest of New York state.
Snowploughs are out in force in Pennsylvania
Millions of people are in the path of the storm
Queues were out the door at Trader Joe's in Union Square
There are empty shelves in many shops along the East Coast
At least 28 million people will face blizzard conditions over the next day and an estimated 50 million people could see more than a foot of snow in the storm.
"In addition to heavy snow, with blizzard warnings, there's a big threat of high, damaging winds, and that will be increasing Monday into Tuesday," said Bob Oravec, a National Weather Service forecaster. "A lot of blowing, drifting and such."
BBC News website readers prepare Christie Craighead and her daughter are preparing to evacuate their home in Concord, New Hampshire, to stay with frie
"Recognise this as an emergency, this is not business as usual," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Heavy snowfall is forecast from Philadelphia to Maine, falling up to four inches an hour in some areas.
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts have declared states of emergency and 50 million people are expected to wake up to a foot of snow on Tuesday.
In other developments:
- 6,500 flights in and out of airports along the East Coast cancelled
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo urged commuters to work from home on Monday
- he also warned that public transport and major roads could close before evening rush hour
- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said state offices would close at lunchtime
- wind gusts of 75 mph or more are forecast for coastal areas of Massachusetts
Glenn Field of the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts, told the BBC on Monday afternoon that the storm will be worse than previously thought.
Hurricane-force winds of up to 80 mph (129km/h) will batter Cape Cod, the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, he said.
A tugboat on the East River with an obscured skyline behind Workers lay salt on the city's walkways Stocks of water are running low in some New York shops Mr Field said the heaviest snowfall will come in the early hours of Tuesday, with 15 inches expected between 0100 and 0500 local time, and 30 inches in total in parts of Massachusetts.
During a Monday afternoon press conference, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to stay out of the way of the 2,300 snowploughs clearing city streets.
Jump media player
Media player help
Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.
BBC Weather explains the causes behind the coming blizzard
"You can't underestimate this storm," the city's mayor said. "What you are going to see in a few hours in something that is going to hit very hard and very fast."
Similar bans for non-emergency vehicles will be in effect later this evening for the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts and would be likely in the rest of New York state.
Snowploughs are out in force in Pennsylvania Millions of people are in the path of the storm Queues were out the door at Trader Joe's in Union Square There are empty shelves in many shops along the East Coast At least 28 million people will face blizzard conditions over the next day and an estimated 50 million people could see more than a foot of snow in the storm.
"In addition to heavy snow, with blizzard warnings, there's a big threat of high, damaging winds, and that will be increasing Monday into Tuesday," said Bob Oravec, a National Weather Service forecaster. "A lot of blowing, drifting and such."
BBC News website readers prepare Christie Craighead and her daughter are preparing to evacuate their home in Concord, New Hampshire, to stay with frie