The same mighty storm that brought blizzards snow and frost in large parts of the central United States this led to a major event Lake effect snow. The conditions have become deadly, at least with three victims reported in the area buffalo (Upstate New York), almost buried 1.1 meters of snow.
In Buffalo, two days of heavy snowfall and high winds created what local authorities say are likely the worst since 1977. The storm began as a rainfall event for Buffalo, with the city benefiting 50.2mm Friday the 23rd and surpassed the previous daily record of 43.9mm, which had stood since 1878. With the arrival of arctic air, the rain turned to heavy snow. Buffalo Airport was out of sight for nearly 16 hours from noon on Friday into the early hours of the 24th. So far there have been reports 109.2 cm Snow at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, located northwest of downtown. On Friday the 23rd alone, the airport received 56.5 cm, followed by another 45.4 cm on Christmas Eve.
Conditions have forced the airport to close until at least 11 a.m. EST on Monday, December 26, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. The snowstorm warning in effect for the metropolitan areas ended this morning, but a winter storm warning remains in effect through 1:00 a.m. EST Monday as lake effect snow persists. Additional snow accumulations can exceed 15 cm, usually south of Buffalo.
More than 28,000 customers were left without power in Erie County, where Buffalo is located, according to data available this morning.
On the morning of December 24, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced two storm casualties, both in Cheektowaga, about 7 miles east of downtown Buffalo. The deaths were classified as “medical emergencies that emergency responders have failed to address.” A third death was reported on the afternoon of December 24 when a body was found in the city, according to a Buffalo Police spokesman. On the morning of December 24, members of the National Guard were deployed to Erie County to rescue people in stranded cars.
