US

Four dead in western New York as all US states dip to freezing

Snowfall contributes to four fatalities as state of emergency declared in 10 counties

A lake-effect snow storm produces a wall of snow travelling over Lake Erie into Buffalo, New York. A state of emergency was declared in Erie County following snowfall. Photograph: Gary Wiepert/Reuters

Wed Nov 19 2014 - 09:15

Temperatures in all 50 US states dipped to freezing or below freezing on Tuesday as an unseasonably cold blast of weather moved across the country, while heavy snow prompted a state of emergency in western New York state and contributed to the deaths of four people.

Every US state, including Hawaii, was bitten by temperatures at the freezing point of 0 degrees or below, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

It was the coldest November morning across the country since 1976, according to Weather Bell Analytics, a meteorologist consulting firm. Typically, such cold weather is not seen until late December through February, the NWS said.

Heavy snowfalls in Orchard Park, New York. Temperatures in all 50 US states dipped to or below freezing point during the coldest November morning since 1976. Photograph: Judith Gros/ Reuters

Parts of Erie County, western New York, had 60 inches (1.5 m) of snow, with more falling, said Steven Welch of the NWS, from the county's main city Buffalo.

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County officials said on Tuesday there had been four storm-related deaths. One person was killed in a traffic accident and three others died after suffering heart problems, two of whom were believed to have been shoveling heavy snow at the time.

Snow fell at a rate of up to five inches (13 cm) an hour and some areas approached the US record for 24-hour snowfall totals of 76 inches (193 cm), the NWS said.

National Guard

New York governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for 10 counties. National Guard troops were deployed to help residents cope with the storm.

A total of three to four feet (0.9 to 1.2 metres) of snow was expected in many areas of western New York and as much as six feet elsewhere (1.8 metres) elsewhere, the NWS said.

Driving ban

A 140 mile stretch of the New York State Thruway along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario was closed. Bans on driving were implemented in some places.

A bus carrying the Niagara University women’s basketball team has been stuck on the Thruway since 2 am, the school said.

In the south of the United States, states were bracing themselves for a record chill from the Arctic-born cold that swept the Rocky Mountains last week.

In Florida, freezing temperatures were expected throughout this morning, the NWS said.

“I can’t stand it,” said Robin Roy (53), shivering underneath a rainbow-coloured poncho at an outdoor market in Gulfport, Florida. “I’ve never liked the cold.”

Reuters

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