Motorists in the Buffalo metropolitan area were advised to stay off the roads as a lake effect snow band and strong winds brought “near-whiteout conditions” to the region on Monday, December 29.
The National Weather Service (NWS) earlier advised that flooding caused by excessive rainfall and snowmelt would continue to impact the region.
Strong damaging winds with peak gusts 65-75 mph were also expected through Monday evening, while heavy lake effect snow was forecast to develop later in the day and last through at least mid week, the NWS said.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expanded a state of emergency statewide in response to lake effect snow and powerful winds.
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services tracked more than 60,000 power outages amid the storm, most of which were reported in the Finger Lakes and Western New York.
This footage, captured by Daniel Pollina, shows near-whiteout conditions as snow and winds whipped Blasdell, south of Buffalo.
“The snow and wind has been crazy today. Easily blizzard criteria in some areas and visibility, at times, was near zero, if not zero,” Pollina told Storyful. Credit: Daniel Pollina via Storyful