PHOTO: Big Snowstorm Blankets East United States

Schools were closed from Virginia to Maine and thousands of people were left without power from the late-winter storm.

A big snowstorm blanketed the eastern United States on Monday, prompting the federal government to delay the opening of its offices as up to a foot (30 cm) of snow canceled flights and snarled commutes.

Schools were closed from Virginia to Maine and thousands of people were left without power from the late-winter storm, which reached as far south as Alabama and Georgia.

In Washington, the federal government said it would open two hours late as commuters coped with up to 10 inches (25 cm) of snow.

Gusting winds of up to 40 mph (65 kph) complicated efforts to keep roads and runways clear. Airline travelers faced canceled flights or significant delays, a spokeswoman for the region's airports said.

News media reported that hundreds of flights in New York and Boston were disrupted.

Take a look at the photo gallery: Big Snowstorm Blankets United States.