Winter storm Elliott – latest: Driving ban lifted in Buffalo as blizzard deaths hit 38
Buffalo region worst affected in US with at least 38 deaths after blizzard dumped 50 inches of snow on city
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One of the coldest Christmases in modern memory has left more than 60 people dead across the US, with 38 people killed in and around the city of Buffalo, which was hammered by over 50 inches of snow.
Nearly a week after the extreme blizzard, the driving ban in Buffalo was lifted on Thursday, although motorists have been advised to be careful around snow-removal equipment and at intersections.
“Hundreds of very large pieces of equipment will still be out clearing streets from curb-to-curb,” Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz warned in a tweet.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Poloncarz confirmed three additional deaths, marking the deadliest storm in western New York in at least two generations.
National Guard went door to door conducting welfare checks in neighbourhoods that lost electricity. As the city continues to dig out of the storm, the death toll is expected to climb further.
Beyond New York state, winter storm Elliott’s icy bite also saw temperatures plunge to record lows in parts of Montana, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, and wrought havoc on Christmas travel plans.
Videos show storm surge battering East Coast
The wild winter weather sweeping the country has included massive bouts of storm surge in Rhode Island, Maine, and Massachusetts.
NORAD declares that neither Covid nor ‘bomb cyclone’ will impede Santa’s progress
The US military’s North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is continuing its tradition of fancifully reporting on Santa’s progress across the Northern Hemisphere use its sophisticated radar systems.
The command has announced that neither Covid nor the winter weather sweeping the country will impede old St Nick.
Here’s an AP video of the military’s Santa-tracking mission, complete with some excellent animations.
Winter weather proves ‘life-threatening’ for homeless populations across US
Thousands of unhoused people are at risk because of the winter weather sweeping across the US, The Guardian reports.
“It’s very worrisome. We know that people die in these types of conditions,” Burke Patten of Night Ministry, a Chicago non-profit, told the paper. “It’s dangerous. I’m concerned.”
Tennessee Valley Authority orders rolling blackouts for first time in 89-year history
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has ordered rolling blackouts for the first time in its 89-year history as freezing temperatures strike across the US.
The agency argued that temporary energy load reductions – rolling blackouts – were needed to stabilize the power grid in the region.
The TVA Chief Operating Officer, Don Moul, told The Tennessean on Friday that they had to limit the strain on the grid when demand was 35 per cent higher than expected compared to a regular day in winter while a number of its coal and gas facilities were shut down by the cold.
“We’re restored a number of those in each category, but we will still have some work to do to build additional margin,” he told the paper.
“We’re optimistic, but also realistic,” he added. “We have some real cold temperatures through the next 48 hours, and we’re expecting peak [energy use] in the evening tonight into tomorrow morning, similar to what we’ve already seen.”
More than 1.7 million people without power
More than 1.7 million people in the US are without power on Saturday morning, according to poweroutage.us.
In North Carolina, there are 477,070 without power, according to the site. The same is true for 297,494 in Tennessee, 226,356 in Maine, 77,904 in South Carolina, and 73,778 in New York.
At least 1,757,913 people in the US were without power at 9.30am on Saturday, CNN noted.
PHOTOS: Winter storm and freezing temperatures strike US
North Carolina power providers says ‘we have begun short, temporary power outages'
North Carolina power provider Duke Energy said on Saturday Morning that “as extreme temps drive unusually high energy demand across the Carolinas we have begun short, temporary power outages”.
“These emergency outages are necessary to protect the energy grid against longer, more widespread outages. We appreciate your patience,” the company tweeted.
US grid operator asks households to cut electricity use amid difficulties in dangerous winter storm Elliott
A major grid operator in the United States is asking customers to reduce electricity use as power plants struggled in the brutal, subzero conditions of Winter Storm Elliott.
Pennsylvania-based PJM Interconnection, which serves 65 million people, asked the public to cut back until the morning of 25th December as frigid temperatures, heavy snow and howling winds continue to sweep the country.
Households were being asked to lower thermostats, postpone using major appliances and turn off non-essential lights and appliances.
At least 12 people have been killed in multiple vehicle collisions during the perilous winter storm as thousands were left stranded at airports on Christmas Eve and power outages rippled across regions.
More than 1.6 million customers are without power across the US with nearly half a million homes impacted in North Carolina. Tens of thousands are also in blackout in Tennessee, Maine, Alabama, and New York.
Read more:
Struggling US grid operator asks people to cut electricity use in storm Elliott
A major grid operator in the United States is asking customers to reduce electricity use as power plants struggled in the brutal, subzero conditions of Winter Storm Elliott.
Two dead in New York state after emergency vehicles unable to reach area
Two people have died in New York state after emergency vehicles were unable to get to the people in need.
Erie County officials said on Saturday that the area may be experiencing its worst storm since the Buffalo blizzard in 1977.
Cheektowaga, a town east of Buffalo, reported the two deaths on Friday night after emergency vehicles couldn’t get to the homes, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said on Saturday morning.
Two-thirds of emergency vehicles are stuck, he said, according to CNN, with one emergency crew travelling two miles in an hour and 40 minutes.
“Due to the severity of the storm, it is unlikely we can provide transport to non-life-threatening situations,” he said.
“This may turn out to be the worst storm in our community’s history, surpassing the famed blizzard of 77 for its ferocity,” he added.
VIDEO: Eastern Canada hit by winter storms
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