Buffalo, New York — Parts of New York finally took a break on Sunday after days of storms that could bring record amounts of snow to cities and towns east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Many businesses in the hardest-hit areas remained closed, but highways were reopened and travel bans lifted in many areas. Mostly spared in previous rounds.
“This was a historic storm. Without a doubt, this is a record,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a briefing on Sunday.
Snow began to fall in the southern town of Buffalo on Thursday. By Saturday, the National Weather Service recorded 77 inches (196 cm) at Orchard Park, home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, and 72 inches at Natural Bridges, a hamlet near Watertown on Lake Ontario’s eastern end. .
A similar few days of storms brought more snow to New York than in the past, but Friday’s storm ferocity hit a state record of 50 inches (127 cm) of snowfall in a 24-hour period. ) appeared to threaten February 1, 1966, Camden, New York.
Buffalo-based National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Arunbaugh said it’s too early to tell if any of this year’s snowfall has exceeded that record.
Hochul is seeking a federal disaster declaration for the affected areas. She said the team is checking on residents of mobile home parks in areas that have had enough snow that their roofs could collapse.
Sunday’s football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns was moved to Detroit because of heavy snow.
New York is used to dramatic lake effect snow. This is caused by cold air picking up moisture from warm water and releasing it onto land as wind-blown snow bands.
This month’s storm was the worst since November 2014, when several communities south of Buffalo were hit by 7 feet (2 meters) of snow in three days, collapsing roofs and trapping drivers on new roads. Worst in the state at least. Thruway, York.
See also: Lee Goldberg weather or not: winter weather forecast
———-
* Get the AccuWeather App
* see more
* follow me on youtube
* Other local news
* Sign up for our free newsletter
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit weather photos and videos
Want to share a weather photo or video? Send it to Eyewitness News using this form. Terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.