Mon Dec 02 12:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Historic Lake-Effect Snowstorm Cripples Post-Thanksgiving Travel Across Northeast

**Buffalo, NY –** A massive lake-effect snowstorm, fueled by record-warm Great Lakes water, has dumped over five feet of snow in parts of western New York, crippling post-Thanksgiving travel and prompting states of emergency in New York and Pennsylvania. The storm, which continues to impact parts of western New York, northeastern Ohio, and northwestern Pennsylvania, is expected to drop an additional foot or more of snow through Tuesday.

Barnes Corners, New York, reported a staggering 65.5 inches (over 5 feet) of snow by Monday morning. Erie, Pennsylvania, saw 31 inches, causing treacherous conditions that even left some city plow trucks stranded. Similar scenes played out across the region, with several residents describing hours spent shoveling unprecedented amounts of snow.

The extreme weather has created a travel nightmare for millions returning home after Thanksgiving. Numerous motorists became stranded, with the National Weather Service urging people to stay off the roads due to whiteout conditions. One family described wading through several feet of snow to reach their home after a hockey tournament.

Governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania have activated the National Guard to assist stranded motorists and support emergency response efforts. Eleven counties in western and central New York are under a state of emergency. Pennsylvania State Police responded to nearly 200 road incidents over a 24-hour period. Road closures and speed restrictions are widespread throughout the affected areas.

The severe cold isn’t limited to the snow-affected regions. Nearly 70% of the continental US is experiencing temperatures below freezing, with many major cities facing below-average temperatures for the entire week.

Despite the blizzard conditions, the Buffalo Bills NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers proceeded as scheduled Sunday night after a massive volunteer effort cleared snow from the stadium.

The storm is expected to continue impacting the region through Tuesday, with significant additional snowfall predicted. Officials are urging residents to stay home unless absolutely necessary and to exercise extreme caution if travel is unavoidable.

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