In Photos: Winter Storm Jonas “Snowzilla” Hit Eastern USA

People take photos in Times Square as the snow gets heavier during a large winter storm in New York City, Jan. 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Millions of people in the eastern United States dug out Sunday from a historic blizzard that brought New York and Washington to a standstill, but travel woes look set to persist into another week.

The storm — dubbed “Snowzilla” — killed at least 18 people after it walloped several states from Friday into early Sunday, affecting an estimated 85 million residents who were told to stay in doors and off the roads for their own safety. Forecasters said 26.8 inches (68 centimeters) of snow fell in New York’s Central Park, the second-highest accumulation in the city since records began in 1869, and more than 22 inches paralyzed the capital Washington.

Near-record-breaking snowfall was recorded in other cities up and down the East Coast, with Philadelphia and Baltimore also on the receiving end of some of the worst that Mother Nature could fling at them. (AP)

The Washington Monument is seen in the snow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 in Washington. Millions of people awoke Saturday to heavy snow outside their doorsteps, strong winds that threatened to increase through the weekend, and largely empty roads as residents from the South to the Northeast heeded warnings to hunker down inside while a mammoth storm barreled across a large swath of the country. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In this photo provided by Michael Watkins, traffic is at a standstill on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Bedford, Pa., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. The Duquesne men’s basketball team and Temple University’s women’s gymnastics team are stuck on the Turnpike due to treacherous weather conditions. A mammoth winter storm crawled up the U.S. East Coast on Saturday, making roads impassable, shutting down mass transit, and bringing Washington and New York City to a standstill. (AP Photo/Michael Watkins via AP)

A vehicle with a plow gets stuck in a snowdrift as the operator attempts to dig his truck out during a large winter storm in New York City, Jan. 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Children enjoy some fun in the snow in Central Park in New York City, Jan. 24, 2016. Over 25 inches of snow in Central Park marked the third-largest snowfall since record-keeping began in 1869, police and weather officials said. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

People take photos in Times Square as the snow gets heavier during a large winter storm in New York City, Jan. 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Pedestrians seek some temporary relief from a bus shelter as they walk across E.57th Street in midtown Manhattan in New York City, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Children enjoy some fun in the snow in Central Park in New York City, Jan. 24, 2016. Over 25 inches of snow in Central Park marked the third-largest snowfall since record-keeping began in 1869, police and weather officials said. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

An is taped off where area where snow and ice fell from an office building at Times Square in New York City, Jan. 24, 2015. All Broadway shows — both matinees and evening performances — were given the green light to go on as normal Sunday after New York state officials lifted their travel ban. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

A snowdrift covers the sidewalk and blocks the entrance of stores on W.57th Street in midtown Manhattan in New York City, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Pedestrians make their way through heavy snow and deep embankments in midtown Manhattan in New York City, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)