Funviralpark “This is probably the worst storm in our lifetime, possibly in the city’s history,” Polonkaerts said. “And this is far from over.”
The National Weather Service warned that an “enhanced shot” of cool air from Canada could bring more snow to the Great Plains and Midwest on Monday, leaving the eastern half of the country likely to remain in deep freeze. did.
In Erie County, deaths nearly doubled overnight from 13 to 25, with ages at death ranging from 26 to 98. They have been found in cars, houses and snowmen. Some suffered cardiac arrest while shoveling snow. It’s an all too common result of cold weather, which can cause arteries and veins to constrict and blood pressure to spike.
In nearby Niagara County, officials said Sunday a 27-year-old man died of carbon monoxide poisoning when heavy snow covered the vents of his outdoor furnace. A second victim was hospitalized.
Poloncarz has warned residents who rely on generators to make sure the machines are placed at least 20 feet from their homes and that their exhaust pipes are kept away from their homes.
Poloncarz expects the death toll to continue to climb as first responders eventually reach victims who may have died days earlier.
Buffalo was at the center of a powerful Arctic explosion that wreaked havoc from Washington to Florida, imposing some form of winter weather warning or advisory on more than half the country. It reported that there were storm-related deaths in people.
At the peak of the Arctic explosion, more than 1.7 million customers across the country were without power on Friday. About 200,000 people in Washington, Maine, Texas and Virginia were hit by power outages on Monday, according to PowerOutage.us.
As the frigid weather has begun to ease in some areas, power companies have lifted power-saving restrictions. In Carolina, Duke Energy said Monday it restored power to thousands of its customers, no longer needing to curb their energy use.
In western New York, snowfall is slowing, but not stopping. The National Weather Service at Buffalo Airport recorded 49.2 inches of snowfall over the past three days. With just a few months left until the end of winter, the city is already above its normal average snowfall for the entire season.
“Some areas that were already wiped out are being hit again,” Polonkers said.
There were heartwarming moments amidst the brutal cold, he added. A heavy-duty snowplow accompanied her ambulance to clear the way in the snow.
The woman was able to make it to the hospital and her baby was born on Christmas, said Poloncarz.
