At least 23 people died in winter weather that wreaked havoc across America over Christmas weekend.
The highest number of deaths was in upstate Erie County, New York, which includes Buffalo, with 7 deaths reported.
“This will go down in history as the most devastating storm ever,” Kathy Hochul, governor of Buffalo, New York, said at a news conference on Christmas morning.
The “huge” snowstorm brought winds of nearly 80 mph, the governor said.
Buffalo has initiated a travel ban as it transitions into blizzard conditions.
“It’s impossible to overstate how dangerous the situation is still,” Ho-chul said on Sunday, urging people to stay off the roads on Christmas.
Kevin Hawk/Reuters
People clear snow during a winter storm in western Amherst, New York, December 24, 2022.
Jeffrey T. Burns/AP
The storm marked the first time in history that the Buffalo Fire Department failed to answer calls, officials said.
Hundreds of people have been rescued from cars, Ho-chul said, adding, “There are still people who need rescues.”
Buffalo’s airport will be closed until Tuesday.
A man removes snow from a sidewalk during a snowstorm on December 24, 2022 in Buffalo, New York
Carolyn Thompson/AP
Weather-related deaths have also been reported in Ohio, Kansas, Vermont, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Missouri, according to the Associated Press.
It’s Christmas morning, and a storm hits the country as the cold air hits the country.
Ice adorns a fountain in Charleston, South Carolina, December 24, 2022. High temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pedro Ugarte/AFP via Getty Images
Temperatures are forecast to drop to -9 degrees in Minneapolis, 2 degrees in Chicago, 3 degrees in Denver, 15 degrees in New York, 16 degrees in Atlanta and 21 degrees in Dallas.
Over 165,000 customers in Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Florida were awakened by power outages on Christmas morning.
More than 3,000 flights to, from, or within the United States have been canceled on Christmas Eve, and to date, more than 1,600 flights have been canceled on Christmas Day.
Passengers line up at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on December 24, 2022.
Paul Beatty/AP
Holiday travelers flock to Detroit Wayne County Metro Airport on Christmas Eve following Elliot’s winter storm in Detroit, Michigan Dec. 24, 2022.
Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images
