A powerful snowstorm has forced the state of New York to declare a state of emergency in various areas, while the state of Pennsylvania has declared a disaster state. Both regions in the USA have urged caution to all individuals returning home after the Thanksgiving holidays, as reported by AP.
The first major snowstorm of the season is blanketing towns across the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan during a busy weekend of travel and holiday shopping in the United States. The intense cold and heavy snowfall could persist until early next week, wreaking havoc in the regions of the Great Lakes, the Plains, and the northern-central part of the country.
An arctic air mass has brought very cold temperatures, 5 to 11 degrees below normal for this time of year in those areas, as reported by the National Weather Service. The cold air is expected to move over the eastern third of the United States on Monday, with temperatures around 5.5 degrees below average.
Nearly 61 centimeters of snow have already fallen in parts of New York, Ohio, and Michigan, with around 73 centimeters of snow recorded in the far northwest of Pennsylvania.
"Travel will be extremely difficult and dangerous this weekend, especially in areas where several centimeters of snow can quickly accumulate," warned the National Weather Service on Saturday.
The National Weather Service indicated that the heaviest snow accumulations were expected "downwind of Lake Erie and Ontario, affecting areas from northeastern Ohio, the far northwest of Pennsylvania, western New York State, and parts of the northwest of New York State."
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the state has been preparing for the storm for days by deploying snowplows and thousands of workers, and consulting with utility providers. "I know it's something everyone is used to and can handle, but I want you to know that we are there with reinforcements to ensure everyone can travel safely, especially during this really busy holiday weekend," she emphasized.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed a disaster emergency declaration and reported that parts of Erie County in the northwest have received nearly a meter of snow, with more expected to fall until Monday night.
The Pennsylvania State Police have responded to nearly 200 incidents during the 24-hour period from 6:00 a.m. on Friday to 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, according to authorities.
Authorities have closed part of Interstate 90 in Pennsylvania and the westbound lanes of the New York Thruway heading towards Pennsylvania.
The city of Erie, Pennsylvania, has announced that traffic is limited to emergency services and medical emergencies until further notice. Snow and slippery conditions have caused intersections and streets to be blocked with stranded vehicles. The population has been urged to shelter in place to allow emergency services to clear neighborhoods.
With parts of some roads impassable in northwest Pennsylvania, dozens of travelers have sought refuge in the lobby and hallways of a Holiday Inn hotel near I-90.
In Buffalo, officials from the NFL's Bills have sought volunteers to clear snow at the stadium before Sunday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. The team has stated that they will pay $20 per hour and provide food and hot drinks.
Parts of Michigan have also been hit by the intense lake-effect snowstorm, which occurs when warm, moist air rising from a body of water mixes with cold, dry air in the atmosphere. Snow bands from Lake Superior have buried parts of the Upper Peninsula under 61 centimeters or more, said Lily Chapman, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Marquette, Michigan.