Workers shovel snow during a snowstorm at Times Square in the Manhattan borough of New York January 23, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

RECORD STORMS

"Records are getting close - we're getting into the top five storms," Gallina said.

The record high of 28 inches (71 cm) of snow in the nation's capital was set in 1922 and the deepest recent snowfall was 17.8 inches in 2010.

Many stores were left with bare shelves as residents stocked up on food, water and wine, preparing to spend the weekend indoors.

The governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the mayor of Washington, declared states of emergency. Officials warned people not to drive.

The storm developed along the Gulf Coast, dropping snow over Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky on Friday. On the East Coast, warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean collided with cold air to form the massive winter system, meteorologists said.