More than 315,000 homes and businesses nationwide were without power Christmas Eve, thanks to an Arctic blast and winter storm that tore down power lines with destructive winds and heavy snow and dipped temperatures dangerously low – conditions killing at least 22 people.
As bone-chilling air continues to grip the US this holiday weekend, the storm still is pummeling parts of the Upper Midwest and interior Northeast with heavy snow and blizzard conditions.
In New York’s Buffalo area particularly, heavy snow (more than 2 feet in places) and strong winds (sometimes higher than 60 mph) at times made visibility close to zero Friday into Saturday. More than a foot more could fall Saturday, with winds gusting up to 65 mph and making temperatures feel well below zero.
In Erie County, which includes Buffalo, blizzard conditions are expected to continue through at least Sunday morning, County Executive Mark Poloncarz told reporters Saturday. The winter storm could continue for at least the next 36 hours, with the blizzard warning in effect until 7 a.m. Christmas morning, Poloncarz said.
“This is still a life-threatening situation,” he said. “This is nothing to be trifled with.”
The county’s Deputy Commissioner of Disaster Preparedness and Homeland Security, Gregory Butcher, said the storm will be significant “for days to come.”
About 500 motorists found themselves stranded in their vehicles in Erie County Friday night into Saturday morning, and a “couple hundred” may still be trapped early Saturday afternoon, Poloncarz told CNN. That’s despite a county driving ban put in place during the storm.
Lia Belles’ 85-year-old grandmother and her father were among the stranded.
They have been stuck on New York State Route 198 in Buffalo – less than a mile from her home – since Friday afternoon. Contact with them is limited due to their phone battery, and they have been turning the heat on and off to save gas.
“There is nothing more I want other than their safety right now,” Belles told CNN Saturday, adding that her dad could walk home but he would never leave his mother alone.
“I’ve tried to walk out to them with a sled but conditions by myself were just impossible,” she said.
Belles said by Saturday afternoon they got help getting the car unstuck but there was no path for them to leave.
“It’s very nerve racking and difficult,” she said. “They’re definitely exhausted, but we’re seeing a little hope right now.”
In hardest-hit areas, many emergency crews that tried to reach the stranded became stuck themselves, Poloncarz said.
RELATED: Blizzard conditions likely through a large portion of Christmas Day
Expect more whiteouts, and storm total snowfalls in excess of three feet in places by day’s end
Rugged near blizzard or blizzard conditions are likely for Erie, Niagara, Orleans, and Genesee Counties through the first part of the day. Storm totals of 1 to 4 feet of snow are likely with winds gusting 40 to 60 miles per hour. Even if it’s not actually snowing, the gusty winds will drive ground blizzards, especially in the open countryside.
Winter Weather Advisory for Niagara and Orleans Counties until 4pm today for blowing snow.
Winter Storm Warning for Erie and Genesee Counties until 4am Monday. Strong winds with blowing snow and additional accumulations of 1 to 2 feet south of Buffalo.
Winter Storm Warning for Wyoming, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus Counties Now through 1am Monday. 1 to 2 feet of snow with winds 40 to 60 miles per hour
Winter Weather Advisory Now through 2pm Sunday for Allegany County. 2 to 6 inches of snow with winds gusting 30 to 50 miles per hour.
As of 7 a.m. on Sunday 43″ of snow has fallen at the Buffalo Airport. The heavy snow band is back near Buffalo, after being in the Northtowns much of the day. The band will settle southward this morning then into Ski Country during the day on Sunday.
Winds will gust to near 40 mph at times into Sunday. Watch for poor visibility where lifting and drifting of that relatively powdery snow takes place.
SUNDAY
MORNING: Snow south of Buffalo, low teens.
AFTERNOON: Snow south of Buffalo, near 20.
MONDAY
MORNING: Snow showers, mid teens.
AFTERNOON: Partly cloudy, near 20.
TUESDAY
MORNING: Partly cloudy, near 15.
AFTERNOON: Sun and clouds, mid 20s.
RELATED: LIVE Buffalo NY Blizzard Warning Cams & Radar
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By: Miss Cherry May Timbol – Independent Reporter
