Historic snowstorm buries western New York under 6 feet of snow, shuts down travel
Ahistoric snowstorm continued to pound western New York state on Saturday with more than 6 feet of snow in some places. Roads have been shut and several flights have been cancelled in the Buffalo area.
The snowfall was blamed for at least two deaths due to ‘cardiac events’ related to shoveling and moving snow, county officials said.
About 280 people needed to be rescued during the storm, according to New York Governor, Kathy Hochul. On Saturday afternoon, Hochul touted the state’s storm preparedness and said crews have been working tirelessly to manage the situation.
She thanked western New Yorkers for shutting down major highways, implementing travel bans and staying home before the snow started to fall, which helped prevent accidents, protect human life and ensure roads are safe and clear for emergency services.
So far, snowfall totals of more than 6 feet have been recorded in two locations, according to the National Weather Service. Orchard Park, where the NFL’s Buffalo Bills play, has picked up 77.0 inches in the last 48 hours, and Natural Bridge, just east of Watertown, has picked up 72.3 inches.
Winter weather alerts are still in effect for over 8 million people across six Great Lakes states on Saturday evening: Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Forecasters and officials have been sounding the alarm over the life-threatening nature of this snowstorm, which is historic even for the Buffalo region where heavy snow is the norm during winter months, as reported by CNN. The snowfall is expected to continue through the weekend with brief periods of relief.
Squalls began blowing in from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario on Thursday to produce the region’s first major snowstorm of the season, more than a month before the start of winter. According to the National Weather Service, conditions could persist through Monday morning.
