US weather: 'Ice tsunami' encases house in New York

A house in upstate New York has been completely encased in an 'ice tsunami'.

The property, on Ramona Beach on the south side of Lake Ontario, was completely entombed in frozen water when blocks of it were blown onto the shore.

The settled ice is around 4ft thick and had to pass over a storm barrier to reach the house.

Similar ‘tsunamis’, formally known as ice shoves, have affected many of the areas surrounding Lake Ontario and nearby Lake Erie in recent days as Storm Quiana surged up from the south-west of the US, bringing winds of up to 80mph.

Homeowner Maureen Whelan is concerned about what will happen to her house when the ice thaws. “We’re very nervous,” Whelan told the Weather Channel.

“We have no idea the damage it’s going to cause, both structural and water damage. Whether it’s a slow thaw or a quick that, it’s all going to flow toward the house.”