A ferocious storm packing freezing rain, heavy snow and furious wind gusts paralyzed most of the East Coast on Monday, sending dozens of cars careening into ditches, grounding hundreds of flights and closing school for millions of kids. The devastating effects of the storm were seen up and down the coast. A crash caused a 15-mile traffic jam in North Carolina, forcing police and the Red Cross to go car-to-car to check on stranded drivers. The storm was blamed for more than 500 crashes in New Jersey, and a Maryland official counted about 50 cars in the ditch on one stretch of highway. By Monday, the storm had moved north into New England, and most areas in the storm's wake expected to see up to 12 inches of snow. The weather contributed to four deaths on roads in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and on Long Island. (29 images)
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A snowy parking lot in Gason County is seen in this aerial photo Monday March 2, in Gastonia, N.C. A ferocious storm packing freezing rain, heavy snow and furious wind gusts paralyzed most of the East Coast on Monday, sending dozens of cars careening into ditches, grounding hundreds of flights and closing school for millions of kids. AP / Charlotte Observer / Todd Sumlin
Four-year-old Amish boy, Elemer Stoltzfus, plays in the snow during a day off from school due to the overnight snowstorm March 2, in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The Washington , D.C. area was hit with a major snow storm with southern Maryland receiving the worst with 8 to 10 inches of snow. Getty Images / Mark Wilson
Five-year-old Sara Ann Stoltzfus looks out her window at the snow during a day off from school due to the overnight snowstorm March 2, in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The Washington, D.C. area was hit with a major snow storm with southern Maryland receiving the worst with 8 to 10 inches of snow. Getty Images / Mark Wilson
Mike McDonald cross country skis across the National mall in front of the U.S. Capitol on Monday, March 2, in Washington, D.C. A late season snow storm hit the east coast of the U.S. late Sunday evening and early Monday morning leaving behind the most significant snowfall of the season in the Washington region. Getty Images / Win McNamee
A bird sits in a tree covered in snow during the aftermath of a snowstorm on March 2, in Charlotte, N.C. A late season snow storm hit the East Coast of the U.S. late Sunday evening and early Monday morning. Getty Images / Streeter Lecka
Dnesstah Fields' eyelashes are coated with ice during a snow storm in Washington, on Monday, March 2. AP / Jacquelyn Martin
A pickup truck makes it's way down a steep hill in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, March 2. A winter storm blanketed the area overnight, leaving several inches of snow. AP / Gerry Broome
A pedestrian steps through slushy snow as makes her way across Seventh Avenue Monday, March 2, in New York. A Nor'easter dumped up to eight inches of snow on parts of the city. The storm warning was in effect until 6 p.m. Monday, with possible wind gusts near 35 mph. AP / Julie Jacobson
New Yorkers commute to work on the Upper East Side of New York Monday, March 2, as a massive winter storm hit the Northeast canceling hundreds of flights and making the morning rush hour difficult with up to a foot of snow in spots. AFP / Getty Images / Timothy A. Clary
Pedestrians make their way to a Metro station on March 2, in Vienna, Va. A massive snowstorm ravaged the eastern United States early Monday, snapping power lines, closing schools and snarling the morning commute amid freezing temperatures from the deep South to Maine. More than one foot of snow was possible in some northern states, the National Weather Service said, as the winter storm began to unleash its fury on the upper portion of the country late Sunday. AFP / Getty Images / Karen Bleier
A Metro employee attempts to keep the platform clear for riders on March 2, at a Metro train station in Vienna, Va. Massive snowstorm ravaged the eastern United States early Monday, snapping power lines, closing schools and snarling the morning commute amid freezing temperatures from the deep South to Maine. More than one foot of snow was possible in some northern states, the National Weather Service said, as the winter storm began to unleash its fury on the upper portion of the country late Sunday. AFP / Getty Images / Karen Bleier
From front, Caitlin Kwapinski, 9, and Allison Zarella, 9, from Ardmore, Penna., take advantage of a day off from school to make snow angels, March 2. A massive late winter snowstorm pummeled the Northeast on Monday, grounding hundreds of flights, causing spinouts on highways, delaying trains and buses and closing school for over a million children from South Carolina to Maine. MCT / Philadelphia Inquirer / Ed Hille
A pedestrian follows a pair of tire tracks into a parking lot near the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City Philadelphia on March 2. A massive late winter snowstorm pummeled the Northeast on Monday, grounding hundreds of flights, causing spinouts on highways, delaying trains and buses and closing school for over a million children from South Carolina to Maine. MCT / Philadelphia Daily News / David Maialetti
A bundled commuter walks through the snow during a winter storm in Washington, Monday, March 2. AP / J. David Ake
Bronx resident Hector Rodriguez clears snow off the windshield of his car before taking his family out for lunch Monday, March 2, in New York. A late winter storm dumped up to 8 inches of snow in parts of New York City and up to a foot of snow on areas outside the city. AP / Julie Jacobson
Len Mace and his daughter Sarah, 8, sled down a snow covered hill in Philadelphia, Monday, March 2. AP / Matt Rourke
Turner Kump of Richmond, tries to clean off his snow encrusted bike after a winter storm dumped up to a foot of snow in Richmond, Va., Monday, March 2. AP / Steve Helber
Children walk down a snow-covered street after a winter storm dumped up to a foot of snow in Richmond, Va., Monday, March 2. AP / Steve Helber
Pedestrians are seen on Independence Mall during a snow storm in Philadelphia, Monday, March 2. AP / Matt Rourke
Snow covered Mercedes-Benz automobiles are seen stacked at a dealership in Arlington, Va., Monday, March 2, as a snow storm hit the Washington area. AP / Harry Hamburg
Jamilya Rich, 10, of Washington, makes a snow angel by the sidewalk in Washington, on Monday, March 2. A late-winter snowstorm pummeled the Northeast on Monday, grounding hundreds of flights, causing spin-outs, delaying trains and buses and closing school for over a million children from South Carolina to New Hampshire. AP / Jacquelyn Martin
People walk on a street in the borough of Brooklyn during a winter storm in New York early, Monday, March 2. AP / Peter Morgan
Snow clings to trees in rain swollen Lake Hickory at the Wittenburg Access area in Bethlehem, N.C. early Monday morning March 2. A ferocious storm packing freezing rain, heavy snow and furious wind gusts paralyzed most of the East Coast on Monday, sending dozens of cars careening into ditches, grounding hundreds of flights and closing school for millions of kids. AP / Charlotte Observer / Jeff Willhelm
A woman unleashes her dog to run in Prospect Park during a winter storm in the borough of Brooklyn in New York on Monday, March 2. AP / Peter Morgan
With no school and several inches of new snow, people sled down a hill in Midlothian, Va. on Monday, March 2. A massive late winter snowstorm pummeled the Northeast on Monday. AP / The Times Dispatch / Mark Gormus
Dennis Gills of Annapolis cleans off his boat docked in Annapolis, Md., Monday, March 2, after a snowstorm hit the East Coast. AP / Susan Walsh
Eileen McGough of Freehold Boro, takes a break from shoveling and plays in the snow with her dog Flash during the winter storm Monday, March 2, in Freehold, N.J. A massive late winter snowstorm pummeled much of the U.S. East Coast on Monday, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations and school closings and snarling many morning commutes. AP / Asbury Park Press / Tanya Breen
The north side of the Manasquan, N.J. shore gets pounded by heavy surf on Monday, March 2. A massive late winter snowstorm pummeled much of the U.S. East Coast on Monday, leading to hundreds of flight cancelations and school closings and snarling many morning commutes. AP / Asbury Park Press / Tom Spader
Residents play on their sleds in Gaston County Monday March 2, 2009 in this aerial view taken aboard AirStar 36. AP / Charlotte Observer / Todd Sumlin
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