Winter storm latest: Buffalo hit by ‘devastating’ blizzard as brutal cold grips US leaving 46 dead – live
‘Dangerous situation’ in Buffalo as storm kills dozens across US
America is experiencing one of the coldest Christmas in modern memory leaving at least 46 people dead, with power outages and travel chaos disrupting the holidays as storm Elliot maintained its icy grip on the country.
More than 1,472 flights were cancelled in the US as of Monday morning, according to Flightaware.com. That number is down from the 3,488 flights cancelled on Saturday, leaving thousands stranded at airports on Christmas Eve.
Powerful winds stretched from the Canadian border south to the Rio Grande, Gulf Coast, and central Florida, and from the Pacific Northwest to the Eastern Seaboard. The Wind chill drove temperatures to minus 40 degrees in some parts of western states.
Eastern states were the hardest hit and the city of Buffalo in western New York state suffered one of the most devastating blizzards in its history. Officials report that 13 people were killed in the city, with people found dead in cars and snowdrifts.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Saturday that she would pursue a federal disaster declaration to streamline the process of getting extra resources to the region. The governor said the storm will “go down in history as the most devastating”.
Seven dead in Buffalo from blizzard
ICYMI: At least seven people have died from frigid winter weather in Buffalo, New York, with four additional deaths confirmed overnight, say officials.
“There may be more,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said on Sunday.
“I don’t want to say this is going to be it, because that would be a fallacy for me to say that. Because we know there are people stuck in cars for more than two days. And there are people in homes that are below freezing now temperatures.”
And he added: “I don’t have the exact total of how they were found.
“I do know that some were found in cars and some were found actually on the street in snowbanks. I offer my deepest condolences to the families, some of them probably have not been actually notified yet.”
(AP)
(AP)
Graeme Massie26 December 2022 13:00
Heavy lake effect snow to impacting already hard-hit locations
The National Weather Service says travel conditions remain challenging across the Great Lakes and northwest with additional heavy lake effect snow impacting already hard-hit locations.
Oliver O’Connell26 December 2022 12:40
Hell freezes over – literally
The storm sweeping the US is so brutal that even Hell, a town in Michigan, froze over as several cities report the weather being the coldest since records began.
Across the US, officials have attributed deaths to exposure, car crashes, a falling tree limb, and other effects of the storm.
Oliver O’Connell26 December 2022 12:30
Teenager dies after falling through ice on pond at Virginia golf course
ICYMI: A teenager died after falling through an icy pond in Virginia on Christmas Eve, according to authorities.
Graeme Massie26 December 2022 12:03
Another brutally cold day begins in the northeast
Another brutally cold day for New York and the northeast as freeze alerts and wind advisories reach down into the south.
Here’s ABC New York’s Sam Champion:
Oliver O’Connell26 December 2022 11:32
Coach crash in Canada injures more than 50 people
ICYMI: More than 50 people have been injured in a coach crash in the province of British Columbia, Canada on Christmas Eve.
At least 53 people were hospitalised following the incident in the city of Kelowna, around 160 miles (260km) from the provincial capital of Victoria.
Premier David Eby said he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of the “serious” incident.
He said: “Our thoughts are with those impacted by the crash, their loved ones, and the first responders and health-care workers giving their all to treat people and keep them safe.”
Graeme Massie26 December 2022 11:03
‘Effects of climate change are wreaking havoc,’ says NY Governor
ICYMI: “The effects of climate change are wreaking havoc everywhere,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul during a press conference on Saturday.
As storm Elliot causes major issues across the US, Ms Hochul said the zero visibility and whiteouts may make this winter storm as one of the “worst in history”.
She advised western New Yorkers to stay home and avoid travelling.
Graeme Massie26 December 2022 09:04
Buffalo Bills players find cars under feet of snow
Players for the Buffalo Bills returned to the storm-hit city after playing in Chicago on Saturday to find their cars under heavy snow.
Graeme Massie26 December 2022 07:56
PHOTOS: Buffalo hit by several feet of snow amid arctic blast
Jessica Chan of Buffalo, New York, navigates deep snow as a large winter storm, which is affecting large portions of the United States, continues to hit Buffalo, New York
(EPA)
A giant tree lays across the intersection of West Delavan Avenue and Bidwell Parkway in Buffalo, N.Y. on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022
(AP)
Gamaliel Vega tries to dig out his car on Lafayette Avenue after he got stuck in a snowdrift about a block from home while trying to help rescue his cousin
(AP)
Graeme Massie26 December 2022 07:04
