In the snowy streets of Buffalo, New York on December 26, 2022 (AFP / Joed Viera)
The extreme cold that has plagued the United States for several days was expected to ease in the east and midwest of the country on Tuesday after the “Snowstorm of the Century” killed at least 49 people, including 27 in a single New York State borough transport chaos.
“It’s way too early to say it’s over,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned, however, adding that up to 30cm of snow should still fall. “This is definitely the blizzard of the century,” she added during a news conference in her native city of Buffalo.
Even if the intensity of the storm is no longer that of the past few days, it is “still dangerous to be outside,” she warned.
“Temperatures in the Midwest and East are expected to ease over the next few days,” the US National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed in its first bulletin on Tuesday, warning of “locally hazardous traffic conditions.”
Since Wednesday evening, the United States has been hit by a winter storm of rare intensity, whose icy winds have caused heavy snowfall, especially in the Great Lakes region.
Tens of millions of Americans saw their Christmas weekend turned upside down by massive power outages, impassable roads and thousands of canceled flights, causing chaos at airports.
In total, more than 15,000 flights had to be canceled, including nearly 4,000 on Monday, according to tracking site Flightaware.com.
– state of emergency –
West New York, used to the cold and storms, has been buried under meters of snow for the past week and is suffering from polar temperatures.
Vehicles left in the snow in downtown Buffalo, New York, U.S., December 26, 2022 (AFP / Joed Viera)
In Erie County, which includes Buffalo, the death toll rose to 27 Monday, according to county official Mark Poloncarz. Some people were found dead in their cars or outside, and others died of cardiac arrest while trying to clear snow , while temperatures were still freezing, he added.
He said he expects more victims to be found over time.
The total number of deaths confirmed by authorities in nine US states is at least 49 dead. Nine people died in traffic accidents related to this bad weather in Ohio, the Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed to AFP.
“My heart goes out to those who have lost a loved one,” US President Joe Biden tweeted Monday, indicating that he had spoken to the governor of New York on the phone and pledged to provide necessary federal resources.
He said they join First Lady Jill Biden in praying for those who lost loved ones in the storm, according to a White House statement.
According to the same source, Joe Biden has also authorized the declaration of a state of emergency in New York State.
– “Heartbreaking” –
Members of the New York National Guard help unlock a car stuck in the snow in Buffalo, USA, on December 25, 2022 (AFP/Joed Viera)
Rescue teams evacuated hundreds of people from snow-covered cars and homes without power, but others could still be stranded in the snow, authorities said.
“Please do not drive unless you are part of the emergency services,” Mr Poloncarz pleaded. “The conditions are bad.”
“What we’re doing today is getting people to doctors, nurses and hospitals,” County Sheriff John Garcia told CNN on Monday. “The roads are finally becoming passable because the wind has died down.”
At the height of the storm, rescuers were unable to reach people in need, such as people stranded in their cars or at home without electricity.
“It’s heartbreaking to receive calls from families with children saying they froze to death,” County Sheriff John Garcia told CNN.
The streets of Buffalo covered in piles of snow, December 26 in upstate New York (THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL / HANDOUT)
Despite the dangerous conditions, Buffalo police rescued “hundreds” of people, the city’s Mayor Byron Brown said.
Power has been restored to more than 13,000 homes in the past 24 hours, Mark Poloncarz said Monday morning, but some may not be connected to the grid until Tuesday, he warned.
Buffalo International Airport will remain closed through Tuesday and the traffic ban remains in effect across the city and much of Erie County.