Joe Hockey has had a very chilly reception in Washington DC as he starts his new job as Australia's Ambassador to the United States. 

Mr Hockey has arrived in the US capital to take up the plum diplomatic job, just in time to experience the "snowmageddon​" that is sweeping the area first-hand. 

He has posted several photos to Twitter showing the Ambassador's residence blanketed in snow, as well as a  "snelfie" (snow selfie), complete with slight grimace and hoodie. 

Mr Hockey, who takes over from outgoing ambassador Kim Beazley, noted that the driveway of his swanky new digs was snowed in, "and our kids have never seen snow before!"