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The death toll from a historic onslaught of winter weather across the U.S. rose to at least 48 Monday as frigid arctic air and heavy lake-effect snow left large swaths of the U.S. frozen.
The pre-Christmas winter storm left at least 27 dead in western New York — one of the worst weather-related disasters in the region’s history after the area was pummeled with as much as 43 inches of snow.
The dead have been found in their cars, homes and in snowbanks. Some died while shoveling snow. The death toll across the country was expected to rise as many remained without power in the frigid temperatures and hazardous road conditions continue.
Buffalo, New York has seen some of the worst damage from the storm, including hurricane-force winds and whiteout conditions from snow that left emergency response vehicles stranded on highways and roads.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz called the storm one of the worst he’s ever seen during a Monday news conference.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime, generational blizzard,” he said of the impacts to the county, which includes Buffalo. “And this is not the end yet.”
While warmer temperatures are forecast for later in the week, the area is still expected to receive six to 12 inches more of heavy, lake-effect snow between Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service station in Buffalo. Lake-effect snow develops from narrow bands of clouds that form when cold, dry arctic air passes over a large lake. It can last anywhere from a few minutes to several days.
Much of New England and the Eastern coast will remain in a deep freeze until more moderate temperatures arrive Tuesday, the NWS said Monday, and lake-effect snow could continue to cause travel hazards until they slowly improve later in the week.
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