Blizzard and winter storm conditions blasted the Midwest early Sunday, as a massive weather system began tracking eastward across the United States, with authorities warning of some of the heaviest snowfalls in a decade and severe impact on transport.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri — where blizzard conditions are expected — to New Jersey.

Emergency services, councils and transport bosses across the north-west of England are bracing themselves for more severe weather, just days after the region was hit by widespread and severe flooding.