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Life Slowly Resuming in DC Area After Monster Winter Storm

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Workers jackets hang on a sign as they clear snow from the steps of the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Jan. 25, 2016.
Workers jackets hang on a sign as they clear snow from the steps of the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Jan. 25, 2016.

The U.S. government was closed Monday, and children in Washington got the day off from school, giving the city a chance to dig out and clean up from the record-breaking winter storm.

Government offices will be closed again Tuesday, as many Washington streets are still snow-covered. The day off for all but emergency government workers Monday let snow plows do their job without dodging heavy commuter traffic, but many streets and some lanes on highways remain piled with snow.

Above-freezing temperatures gave residents a chance to dig out from the 76 centimeters of snow that fell on some parts of the Washington area. Tuesday should even be a bit warmer.

More than 1,500 flights in and out of major east coast airports in Washington, Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia were canceled Monday while commuter rail service gradually returned to normal schedules.

People cross slush and snow covered street in lower Manhattan in New York, Jan. 25, 2016.
People cross slush and snow covered street in lower Manhattan in New York, Jan. 25, 2016.

The winter storm brought blizzards, floods and record-setting snowfall to tens of millions of people from New York City to the south.

The huge storm moved up the Atlantic coast Friday and Saturday, bringing near hurricane-force winds and moisture from the warm Gulf of Mexico.

It struck hardest in the Baltimore and Washington area -- two cities unaccustomed to violent winter weather.

At least 35 storm-related deaths have been reported, including heart attacks from shoveling snow.

One man in Pennsylvania suffocated in his parked car with the motor running when a plow completely buried the vehicle with snow, blocking the exhaust pipe and filling the car with carbon monoxide.

Snow Still Slows US East Coast

Morning commuters pass snow on Wall Street in front of Federal Hall in New York's Financial District,  Jan. 25, 2016.
1/6 Morning commuters pass snow on Wall Street in front of Federal Hall in New York's Financial District, Jan. 25, 2016.
The weekend blizzard that paralyzed much of the United States' East Coast left deep snowfalls that have slowed the return to a regular workweek. In the Washington area, the federal government and schools remained closed Monday. But in New York and other northern cities more accustomed to heavy snow, business is gradually resuming.
A dump truck empties near the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Jan. 24, 2016. Washington is digging out after a mammoth blizzard brought much of the East Coast to an icy standstill.
2/6 A dump truck empties near the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Jan. 24, 2016. Washington is digging out after a mammoth blizzard brought much of the East Coast to an icy standstill.
The weekend blizzard that paralyzed much of the United States' East Coast left deep snowfalls that have slowed the return to a regular workweek. In the Washington area, the federal government and schools remained closed Monday. But in New York and other northern cities more accustomed to heavy snow, business is gradually resuming.
Two-year-old Eli Bokor's father pulls the boy in a laundry basket down a snow-covered street in southeast Washington, Jan. 24, 2016.
3/6 Two-year-old Eli Bokor's father pulls the boy in a laundry basket down a snow-covered street in southeast Washington, Jan. 24, 2016.
The weekend blizzard that paralyzed much of the United States' East Coast left deep snowfalls that have slowed the return to a regular workweek. In the Washington area, the federal government and schools remained closed Monday. But in New York and other northern cities more accustomed to heavy snow, business is gradually resuming.
Two men snowshoe through New York’s Central Park, Jan. 24, 2016, after a one-day record of 26.6 inches fell there.
4/6 Two men snowshoe through New York’s Central Park, Jan. 24, 2016, after a one-day record of 26.6 inches fell there.
The weekend blizzard that paralyzed much of the United States' East Coast left deep snowfalls that have slowed the return to a regular workweek. In the Washington area, the federal government and schools remained closed Monday. But in New York and other northern cities more accustomed to heavy snow, business is gradually resuming.
Frank Courtell clears snow from his driveway in the Washington suburb of Annandale, Va., Jan. 24, 2016. The Washington area is trying to brush off the snowfall, but much of the area remained at a standstill Monday.
5/6 Frank Courtell clears snow from his driveway in the Washington suburb of Annandale, Va., Jan. 24, 2016. The Washington area is trying to brush off the snowfall, but much of the area remained at a standstill Monday.
The weekend blizzard that paralyzed much of the United States' East Coast left deep snowfalls that have slowed the return to a regular workweek. In the Washington area, the federal government and schools remained closed Monday. But in New York and other northern cities more accustomed to heavy snow, business is gradually resuming.
Commuters cross piles of snow to catch a bus in New York, Jan. 25, 2016. The weekend's storm dropped snow from the Gulf Coast to New England, complicating travel.
6/6 Commuters cross piles of snow to catch a bus in New York, Jan. 25, 2016. The weekend's storm dropped snow from the Gulf Coast to New England, complicating travel.
The weekend blizzard that paralyzed much of the United States' East Coast left deep snowfalls that have slowed the return to a regular workweek. In the Washington area, the federal government and schools remained closed Monday. But in New York and other northern cities more accustomed to heavy snow, business is gradually resuming.
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