Aust travellers hit by US snowstorm

Qantas codeshare flights across the US have been cancelled as an historic snowstorm is set to hit New York, Boston and other north-east cities.

Travellers check a flight information board at Miami airport

Qantas codeshare flights across the US have been cancelled as a snowstorm hits the north-east. (AAP)

A massive blizzard described as "a hurricane of snow" is set to slam America's heavily-populated north-east, with many Australian travellers in the US stranded as airlines cancel thousands of flights and roads become treacherous.

American Airlines announced it would suspend operations in New York, Boston and Philadelphia late Monday afternoon.

The airline has Qantas codeshare flights across the US and Canada.

Qantas codeshare flights to New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Toronto and Montreal have been cancelled.

Qantas codeshares from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco have also been cancelled.

Virgin America encouraged customers to remain up-to-date with the status of flights.

The storm is expected to bring near hurricane-force 105km/h winds and dump more than 90cm of snow on Monday and Tuesday in a region where almost 60 million people live, according to the National Weather Service.

Public transport could be shut down.

"I want everyone to understand that we are facing, most likely, one of the largest snowstorms in the history of this city," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned.


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