People have been trapped in cars for more than two days, while others have been living in their homes without power in sub-zero temperatures.
The prolonged storm that brought heavy snow, strong winds and freezing temperatures to much of the US has killed at least 37 people and left hundreds of thousands without power.
Buffalo, New York, was hit hardest by the record snowfall, with more than a foot of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
After being stuck for up to 5 days due to the #blizzard, all of I-90 will re-open by noon! Many truckers told us it’s the longest they’ve ever had to pull over for weather.#SDwx https://t.co/a03s3W9iPA pic.twitter.com/eT1ZJOdMf3
— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) December 17, 2022
The blizzard impassable roads, froze power substations and left more than a dozen people dead, Erie County officials said.
Conditions eased a bit on Sunday, allowing emergency crews to get out and see the extent of the problem.
When the weather gets as cold as it is in the eastern US, you can always have fun making frozen bubbles. Here is one of my creations. #winter @spann pic.twitter.com/CbV9GZtoQG
— Tom Niziol (@TomNiziol) December 24, 2022
“We know there are people who have been trapped in cars for more than two days,” Erie County officials said. “There are people inside the houses living in sub-zero temperatures.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called the storm the “most destructive in Buffalo’s history” because of its strength and length of time.
“It’s a crisis of epic proportions,” she told CNN on Sunday.
Since last week, the “bomb cyclone” has brought dangerously cold temperatures, blizzards and coastal flooding to nearly the entire US, ruining Christmas plans.
More than 55 million people have received wind chill and frost warnings.
Flight cancellations topped 1,400 on Christmas morning
Some major cities in the Southeast, Midwest and East Coast recorded their coldest Christmases in decades. Florida experienced its coldest Christmas since 1983.
New York also saw record low temperatures on Christmas Eve, including at JFK and LaGuardia airports.
Temperatures are forecast to rise through the week with above normal temperatures.
About 250,000 U.S. homes and businesses were without power, with nearly half of those in Maine and New York, according to PowerOutage.us.
Since the start of the storm, power outages have affected more than a million citizens.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
