A rare winter storm has hit the Southeast United States, dumping snow on Florida's capital, Tallahassee, for the first time in three decades. The governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia declared states of emergency, warning residents to expect icy roads and freezing temperatures. Schools have also been shut in New York City due to the weather. The National Weather Service said, New York could see 5 to 8 inches of snow and wind gusts as high as 80 kilometres per hour today.<br/>New England also braced for a blizzard which is expected to bring heavy accumulations.<br/>Sustained cold spell has also frozen parts of Niagara Falls on the American and Canadian sides. It played havoc with public works causing pipes to freeze and water mains to burst.<br/>At least nine deaths have been reported over the past few days.