Multiple deaths, lockdowns, canceled flights, strong storms and snow more than 1.60 meters high: chaos reigns in parts of New York state, a state of emergency has even been declared. Heavy snowfall is currently keeping the regions in suspense, with Hamburg near Buffalo being particularly affected. The trigger for the massive precipitation: the so-called Lake effect.
The National Weather Service reported more than five feet of snow on Friday night (local time) in the town of Orchard Park south of Buffalo. A state of emergency has been declared in parts of the state, Mark Poloncarz, responsible for the district, said on Twitter.
Multiple fatalities
Two people died of heart problems while clearing snow in Erie County, Poloncarz said. In the American state of Indiana west of New York, the driver of a snow plow had a fatal accident on Friday.
The Ingredients for the “Lake Effect”
There had been warnings beforehand. The so-called lake effect, which only occurs under certain circumstances and especially at the beginning of winter, is responsible for the exceptional situation. Necessary for this: extremely cold air that moves over the Great Lakes in the north of the US, which are still very warm in comparison. The air absorbs a lot of moisture along the way and eventually it snows in narrow strips of precipitation over land on the southeast side of the lakes.
So there can also be huge differences in the amount of snow. For example, if a region sinks into snow, a completely different picture can emerge a few kilometers away.
The snowfall is expected to continue on Saturday and then slowly decrease on Sunday. It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving, the American harvest festival. The travel volume is particularly high during this period.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
