Around 50 people in nine states are estimated to have died in what is being called the "blizzard of the century".
The city of Buffalo and surrounding areas in New York state stands out as the worst hit with 27 confirmed deaths.
State Governor Kathy Hochul, herself from Buffalo, describes the area in and around the city as a war zone.
The governor has called in 200 people from the National Guard who, together with the emergency services, rescued hundreds of people in snow-covered cars and in homes without electricity.
But authorities say more people are trapped.
- It is certainly the blizzard of the century, says Kathy Hochul.
However, the storm will linger for a while before it is expected to soften somewhat during Tuesday, warns the US weather agency NWS.
Driving is prohibited in Buffalo and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is closed until Wednesday.
For the NHL team Buffalo, with four Swedes in the team, the match against Columbus, the night of Wednesday, is now postponed.
A new match date has not yet been announced.
It is the team's second game postponed as a result of the storm.
The night before Christmas Eve they would have faced Tampa Bay.
That match will be played on March 4 instead.
Detroit and Ottawa, which would have been played on the night of Christmas Eve, were also postponed.
The match will now instead be played on February 27.