A strong cold storm accompanied by heavy snow and strong winds hit the eastern coast of the United States on Saturday, canceling thousands of flights and issuing severe weather warnings in a region of about 70 million people.

With the blizzard warning, cities like New York and Boston on Saturday morning bore the brunt of the storm, the impact of which extended to the mid-Atlantic region.

The warning of freezing reached as far south as Florida, where freezing temperatures temporarily paralyzed large lizards, which can weigh up to nine kilograms, and were warned of the possibility of falling from trees.

Salt-sprayers and icebreakers crawled along New York's morning streets covered in a 10-centimeter layer of snow, and Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to stay home if they could.

About 3,500 flights were canceled Saturday for travel within, to or from the United States, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. It also announced the cancellation of 701 flights for Sunday.

Friday cancellations totaled more than 1,450 flights.

Forecasters warned of "dangerous snowstorm conditions" along parts of the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts, with more than two feet of snow expected in the area around Boston, and strong winds potentially causing "power outages" in some areas.

The service warned of the lack of visibility that will make "travel almost impossible at times."

A state of emergency was declared in New York and New Jersey.

"It's going to be very difficult," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said as she declared a state of emergency due to the snowfall.

Massachusetts residents scrambled Friday to buy groceries as well as snow and ice pellets to keep sidewalks and driveways clear.

Early Saturday morning, Boston Public Works said 500 snowplows were operating on city streets.

Meteorologists said they expect very cold temperatures with strong winds from Saturday night to Sunday morning.

"Return to your homes safely tonight and stay there over the weekend, and avoid non-essential travel," New York Governor Cathy Hochhol said in a statement, noting that heavy snow was expected in Long Island, New York City and the Hudson Valley in particular.

It also urged those who had to travel to fill up their car tanks and keep supplies such as snow scrapers, blankets and water in their cars.

Meteorologists in the eastern region on Friday expected the storm to intensify quickly during the next 24 hours, a weather phenomenon sometimes referred to as a "bomb cyclone."

The snowstorm came on the heels of a similar winter storm that covered swathes of eastern North America, from Georgia to Canada, just two weeks ago, cutting power to thousands of homes and disrupting thousands of flights.