Record snowfall of 26.9 inches hits New York City

A record-breaking storm buried sections of the US Northeast under more than two feet (60 centimeters) of snow on Sunday, marooning thousands of travelers. The National Weather Service said 26.9 inches (68.3 centimeters) of snow had fallen in Central Park, the most since record-keeping started in 1869. The old record was 26.4 inches (67 centimeters) in December 1947. Wind gusting as high as 60 mph (96.5 kph) blew the snow sideways and raised a risk of coastal flooding in New England. And in a rare display, lightning lit up the falling snow before dawn in the New York and Philadelphia areas, producing muffled winter thunder.