The Skyline of Buffalo, New York, is barely visible from a snow-covered and unploughed road with a stop sign, a day after a winter storm that dumped a reported 1.5m of lake-effect snow on the area. Forecasters are predicting more snow in the area which might bring the total snowfall to more than 1.83m.
AFP
New York
The northeastern United States braced for another bout of potentially deadly weather yesterday after a rare, mid-autumn blizzard killed at least eight people.
The pre-winter storm this week dumped more than six feet (1.8m) of snow in some areas, including the hard hit city of Buffalo in the western part of New York state.
Forecasters have predicted that the wintry deluge could set a record for the heaviest snowfall ever in the US in a 24-hour time span.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said in its latest bulletin that an extra two to three feet (60-90cm) of “lake effect snow”, created when frigid air moves over warm lake waters, could fall.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who travelled to Buffalo yesterday for a firsthand look, said at a press conference that it may even be necessary to cancel an NFL football game on Sunday between the local Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets – sacrilege in a sport that many fans insist is most enjoyable when the weather is at its worst.
“Everybody would love to see a Bills game go forward, but I think even more, everybody wants to make sure public safety comes first,” Cuomo said. “At this point in time, doing what we have to do with the driving ban and everything we just said – staying off the roads – would make a Bills game impractical.”
The snow advisory will remain in effect through today, said the NWS, which warned of treacherous conditions, including near-zero visibility, and even the possibility of “thundersnow” – snow with thunder and lightning.
The snowfall is equivalent to around a year’s supply of snow in just two days and could yet prompt a federal disaster declaration, local officials said.
The colossal snowfall collapsed roofs, damaged homes and shuttered businesses. It also led to hundreds of delayed and canceled flights at Buffalo-Niagra International Airport.
Meanwhile, motorists were left stranded on some highways, some immobilised for two full days while waiting for help to arrive and roads to be cleared.
Many of those who died lost their lives while working clear away mounds of heavy snow from their cars and homes.
A man in his 60s died of a heart attack while trying to operate his snow blower, bringing to eight the number of deaths blamed on the blizzard said deputy Erie County executive Ricard Tobe.
“Very dangerous storm. One more day. Let’s get through this snow. People – continue to be smart. Stay at home. Observe the driving bans,” he told a news conference.
Cuomo, meanwhile, called up the National Guard, mobilising some 1,200 troops and deploying hundreds of pieces of heavy equipment – including 463 plows to remove snow from around Lake Erie on the Canadian border.
The rock band Interpol said that they were stranded more than 50 hours on their tour bus by the storm just outside Buffalo, forcing them to cancel two consecutive nights of concerts in Montreal and Toronto.
“Finally just started making a move. 50+ hours later. Hoping for some luck today,” the band tweeted yesterday morning.
“Settling in for another night. Haven’t moved all day. Hoping the expected storm tonight ain’t as bad as predicted,” they updated fans late on Wednesday in a series of upbeat posts and pictures.
Dave Zaff, a meteorologist from the NWS, told AFP that some areas south of Buffalo city received at least 70-80 inches (1.8m to 2m) of snow since the storm began.
“This is definitely historic,” he said. “This one will be etched in people’s memories.”
The snow is expected to pummel hard-hit areas again late overnight before moving south, turning to rain tomorrow – which brings its own risks, Zaff said.
“The main concern would be flooding,” he told AFP. “We have a number of creeks and small rivers that run through the area, those could be a good risk and other drainage issues.”
