Parts of New York finally caught a break Sunday after a storm spent days dumping a potentially record-setting amount of snow on cities and towns east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Many businesses in the hardest-hit areas remained closed, but highways reopened and travel bans in many areas were lifted, though bands of lake-effect snow were expected to bring up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) by Monday morning in some parts of the state that were largely spared in earlier rounds.
“This has been a historic storm. Without a doubt, this is one for the record books,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a briefing Sunday.
Snow began falling Thursday in towns south of Buffalo. By Sunday, the National Weather Service recorded 80 inches in Orchard Park, home to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, and 72 inches in Natural Bridge, a hamlet near Watertown off the eastern end of Lake Ontario.
Hochul is asking for a federal disaster declaration for the affected areas, which would potentially unlock some aid. She said teams were checking on residents of mobile home parks in areas that got enough snow to potentially crumple roofs.
Due to the heavy snowfall, a Sunday football game between the Buffalo Bills’ and Cleveland Browns was moved to Detroit.
New York is no stranger to dramatic lake-effect snow, which is caused by cool air picking up moisture from the warmer water, then releasing it in bands of windblown snow over land.
This month’s storm is at least the worst in the state since November 2014, when some communities south of Buffalo were hit with 7 feet of snow over the course of three days, collapsing roofs and trapping drivers on a stretch of the New York State Thruway.
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Storm Deaths
As a result of the massive and historic storm, two people have died, according to Erie County Executive Marl Poloncarz. The Erie County residents' deaths were "associated with cardia events related to exertion during shoveling/snow blowing," Poloncarz said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a tweet that those in Erie County should "exercise extreme caution when removing snow and continue following the guidance of local officials."
Is There a Travel Ban in Buffalo?
The storm is bad enough that, even for a place used to tough weather, things are starting to shut down.
NBC affiliate WGRZ reported that an Erie County travel ban is in effect for some towns just south of Buffalo. The station reported minor local power outages as well - lucky, perhaps, given the magnitude of a storm variously described as "incredible" and "crippling."
Erie County Travel Ban
Eric County Executive Mark Poloncarz took to social media early Saturday morning to update the county's travel ban, which he said could be amended later in the day.
As of 3 p.m. Sunday, the Erie County travel ban had been significantly reduced but was still in place for a few communities south of Buffalo.
