As temperatures plummet and heavy snow continues in western New York State, roads have been closed and several flights have been canceled in the Buffalo area.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 20, 2022 11:06 AM IST
A man uses a snow blower in front of his home in Buffalo on Saturday. (AP photo)
By India Today Web Desk: A historic blizzard continued to ravage western New York State on Saturday with more than 6 feet of snow in places. Roads have been closed and several flights have been canceled in the Buffalo area.
The snowfall is responsible for at least two deaths from “heart disease” related to shoveling and moving snow, county officials said.
According to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, about 280 people had to be rescued during the storm. On Saturday afternoon, Hochul praised the state’s storm preparedness, saying crews worked tirelessly to manage the situation.
She thanked Western New Yorkers for closing major highways, enacting travel bans, and staying home before the snow began to fall, which helped prevent accidents, protect lives, and ensure roads are safe and clear for emergency responders.
Snowfall totals of more than 6 feet have been recorded so far at two locations, according to the National Weather Service. Orchard Park, where the NFL’s Buffalo Bills play, has gained 77.0 inches in the last 48 hours, and Natural Bridge, just east of Watertown, has gained 72.3 inches.
Winter weather warnings are still in effect for more than 8 million people in six Great Lakes states on Saturday night: Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
Forecasters and officials have sounded the alarm about the life-threatening nature of this blizzard, which is historic even for the Buffalo region, where heavy snowfall is the norm during the winter months, as reported by CNN. The snowfall is expected to continue through the weekend with brief periods of relief.
More than a month before the onset of winter, gusts began to blow in from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario on Thursday, causing the region’s first major blizzard of the season. Conditions could last into Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.