A winter storm hit much of of the central and eastern United States over night Monday, leaving behind snow, ice and frigid temperatures from as far west as Missouri to the Atlantic Coast.

The storm left up to 15 centimeters of snow in Washington, the first significant snowfall of the season for the nation’s capital. The storm prompted the federal government to shut down for the day, along with area schools. Hundreds of airline flights were also cancelled in the region.

Schools and offices were also closed as far south as Georgia, where ice made driving hazards and caused power outages.

In New Orleans, where the annual Mardi Gras celebration is underway, revelers were forced to bundle up as temperatures hovered near freezing.

The northeastern U.S. received even more snow from this latest storm. The National Weather Service reports the eastern state of Massachusetts has now received more than 2.54 meters of snow this season.

The National Weather Service reports unusually cold weather is forecast to continue through much of the coming week for the eastern U.S.   

Another arctic front will arrive in East Coast by Wednesday night, bringing with it some of the coldest temperatures seen in the region for 20 years.
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