United States Hit By Freezing Temperatures, Western New York Covered In Six Feet Of Snow | HuffPost

Western New York Covered In Six Feet Of Snow

Paul Vale— The Huffington Post UK

|

NEW YORK -- The United States has been plunged into an unseasonal freeze, with temperatures up to 15 degrees lower than average for mid-November. Some areas of New York State, on the country’s eastern coast, have suffered more than six feet of snow, with Buffalo, NY, experiencing 60-inches on Tuesday. The snowfall has been accompanied by wind gusts up to 40 mph and visibility near zero.

The weather has led to seven deaths, with freezing temperatures of around -5 degrees hitting New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Much of the Midwest is also suffering from the icy blast; even in the south cities, such as Atlanta, Houston and New Orleans, are experiencing an unusual freeze.

According to meteorologists, the entire mainland US plunged to around freezing on Tuesday, with the snap expected to continue until the end of the week. The weather has left many people trapped in their cars, with state troopers and members of the National Guard deployed to rescue around 150 people across different states.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement on Tuesday: "Travel bans and advisories remain in effect, and I urge drivers to stay off the roads so that our state agencies and the National Guard can assist those that need help".

Speaking to AP, Linda Oakley of Buffalo, said:"We have tried to get out of our house, and we are lucky to be able to shovel so we can open the door. Basically, that's it, open the door." She added: "We're just thinking that in case of an emergency we can at least get out the door. We can't go any further. All around us, it's a solid four feet of snow that is so thick and so heavy you can hardly move it with a shovel."

Buffalo snow

(01 of19)

A band of storm clouds moves across Lake Erie and into Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. Parts of New York measured the season's first big snowfall in feet, rather than inches, on Tuesday as 3 feet of lake-effect snow blanketed the Buffalo area and forced the closure of a 132-mile stretch of the state Thruway. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(02 of19)

A New York State Snowgrader moves snow on Broadway in Lancaster, N.Y. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. A ferocious storm dumped massive piles of snow on parts of upstate New York, trapping residents in their homes and stranding motorists on roadways, as temperatures in all 50 states fell to freezing or below. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(03 of19)

Snow covers a street at daybreak Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in south Buffalo, N.Y. Buffalo-area officials are getting help from a neighboring county in their efforts to clear roads and provide emergency services during the snowstorm that has buried sections of western New York in more than 5 feet of snow. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(04 of19)

This driver climbs a snowbank to get to a gas at a station in Lancaster, N.Y. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. A ferocious storm dumped massive piles of snow on parts of upstate New York, trapping residents in their homes and stranding motorists on roadways, as temperatures in all 50 states fell to freezing or below. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(05 of19)

A New York State snowblower removes snow on Broadway in Lancaster, N.Y. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. A ferocious storm dumped massive piles of snow on parts of upstate New York, trapping residents in their homes and stranding motorists on roadways, as temperatures in all 50 states fell to freezing or below. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(06 of19)

(07 of19)

Cars with snow atop the roofs sit idle at this home on Broadway in Lancaster, N.Y. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. A ferocious storm dumped massive piles of snow on parts of upstate New York, trapping residents in their homes and stranding motorists on roadways, as temperatures in all 50 states fell to freezing or below. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(08 of19)

Lake-effect snow storm with freezing temperatures affected travel, like this plane that negotiated its way through the snow at Buffalo Greater International Airport, in Buffalo, N.Y. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. Temperatures fell to freezing or below at recording stations in all 50 states on Tuesday morning, from the highest elevations in the mountains of Hawaii to the snow-paralyzed Buffalo area in New York. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(09 of19)

A house is obscured by wind-blown, lake-effect snow on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 in Buffalo, N.Y. Parts of New York measured the season's first big snowfall in feet, rather than inches, as 3 feet of lake-effect snow blanketed the Buffalo area. The Thruway Authority said white-out conditions caused by wind gusts of more than 30 mph forced the closure of Interstate 90 in both directions from the Rochester area to Ripley, on the Pennsylvania border 60 miles southwest of Buffalo. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(10 of19)

A band of storm clouds moves across Lake Erie and into Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. Parts of New York measured the season's first big snowfall in feet, rather than inches, on Tuesday as 3 feet of lake-effect snow blanketed the Buffalo area and forced the closure of a 132-mile stretch of the state Thruway. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(11 of19)

Heavy snow covers the street on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 in Buffalo, N.Y., Parts of New York are measuring the season's first big snowfall in feet, rather than inches, as nearly 3 feet blanketed the Buffalo area Tuesday, forcing the closure of a 105-mile stretch of the state Thruway. The National Weather Service says a foot to almost 3 feet of snow has fallen on areas south and east of the city. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(12 of19)

Snow covers a street at daybreak Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in south Buffalo, N.Y. Buffalo-area officials are getting help from a neighboring county in their efforts to clear roads and provide emergency services during the snowstorm that has buried sections of western New York in more than 5 feet of snow. (credit:Carolyn Thompson/AP)

(13 of19)

A lake-effect wall of snow storm travels across Lake Erie into Buffalo, N.Y. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. Several feet of lake-effect snow paralyzed the Buffalo area Tuesday, forcing state troopers to deliver blankets and other supplies to motorists stranded on the New York State Thruway and adding an ominous note to a wintry season that's already snarling travel and numbing fingers from the Midwest to the Carolinas. (credit:Gary Wiepert/AP)

(14 of19)

A 4-foot fence and SUV are nearly buried along a street in Buffalo, N.Y. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. Parts of New York measured the season's first big snowfall in feet, rather than inches, as 3 feet of lake-effect snow blanketed the Buffalo area. The Thruway Authority said white-out conditions caused by wind gusts of more than 30 mph forced the closure of Interstate 90 in both directions from the Rochester area to Ripley, on the Pennsylvania border 60 miles southwest of Buffalo. (credit:Carolyn Thompson/AP)

(15 of19)

Heavy snow covers the street on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 in Buffalo, N.Y., Parts of New York are measuring the season's first big snowfall in feet, rather than inches, as nearly 3 feet blanketed the Buffalo area Tuesday, forcing the closure of a 105-mile stretch of the state Thruway. The National Weather Service says a foot to almost 3 feet of snow has fallen on areas south and east of the city. (credit:Carolyn Thompson/AP)

(16 of19)

Heavy snow covers the street on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 in Buffalo, N.Y., Parts of New York are measuring the season's first big snowfall in feet, rather than inches, as nearly 3 feet blanketed the Buffalo area Tuesday, forcing the closure of a 105-mile stretch of the state Thruway. The National Weather Service says a foot to almost 3 feet of snow has fallen on areas south and east of the city. (credit:Carolyn Thompson/AP)

(17 of19)

(credit:Sherri Grin)

(18 of19)

(credit:Sherri Grin)

(19 of19)

(credit:Sherri Grin)

Suggest a correction

|

What's Hot

Tory MP Defects To Labour In Latest Blow For Rishi Sunak

Everyone Is Losing Their Minds Over What ACTUALLY Happens During A C-Section

Emma Stone Says It Would Be ‘Nice’ If People Would ‘Just Call Me’ By Her Real Name

The 1 Unexpected Side Effect Of Rapid Weight Loss We Don't Talk About Enough