Heavy snowfall in many areas of New York state (USA) paralyzed traffic, while bitter cold temperatures covered a large area of the United States.
Record snowfall, up to 1.2 to 1.8 metres, is forecast to continue to fall in Watertown and areas east of Lake Ontario through December 2. The storm is caused by a phenomenon called “lake-effect snow”. Specifically, cold air blowing over the warm surface of Lake Ontario condenses water vapor and creates heavy snowfall. Meteorologists also warn that some other areas could receive up to 900 mm of snow throughout the weekend.
In response to the severity of the situation, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in the counties that were heavily affected by the snowstorm. This move allows state authorities to mobilize resources and deploy timely relief measures. One of the immediate consequences of this snowstorm is that many important transportation routes have been blocked.
The images below show Americans struggling with the heavy snowfall: