A major snowstorm pummeled the United States from Illinois to Virginia and New York, nearing all-time winter records after an epic weekend blizzard paralyzed Washington and much of the east coast.

Federal government offices in the capital will be closed Wednesday for the third straight day, while local schools prepared to remain closed until next week as the National Weather Service forecast the mid-Atlantic region would get up to 14 inches (36 centimeters) of fresh snow.