US ice storm hits South and East Coast leaving 350,000 people without power

A massive ice storm is now poised to pummel the US East Coast after wreaking havoc in the South, say forecasters.

More than 350,000 people are reportedly without power and 3,000 US flights have been cancelled due to ice and strong winds.

Nearly empty roadways were reported as many heeded warnings to stay indoors.

North Carolina and Virginia are bracing for up to 1ft of snow as the storm rolls north.

It is predicted to drop up to 8in of snow in Washington DC and up to 10in in New York overnight.

At least five traffic accident deaths were blamed on ice in Texas and Mississippi.

The National Weather Service said it was an event of “historical proportions”, drawing comparisons with similar weather systems that struck the Atlanta area in 2000 and 1973.