Climate
Massive Christmas winter storm leaves more than 34 dead
The unprecedented storm has left almost 60% of the U.S. population under some kind of winter weather advisory or warning
December 26, 2022 5:47am
Updated: December 26, 2022 1:46pm
At least 34 people have died after a massive winter storm hit the United States and left millions trapped inside their homes, without electricity this Christmas weekend.
The unprecedented storm, which stretches from the northern border with Canada all the way to the southern border with Mexico, has left almost 60% of the U.S. population under some kind of winter weather advisory or warning, according to the National Weather Service.
More than 55 million people were under wind chill alerts and freeze warnings on Sunday. Several cities recorded their coldest Christmas in decades, including several cities in Florida and New York.
The storm knocked out power in towns from Maine to Seattle, leaving several to brace for the freezing cold temperatures. According to poweroutage.us, around 1.7 million people were left without electricity at some point this weekend. By Sunday at 3 p.m., less than 200,000 customers were without power.
The most impacted city was Buffalo, New York, which received almost 43 inches of snow as of Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The blizzard, which caused road conditions to deteriorate and froze power substations, left at least seven people dead.
"Some were found in cars, some were found on the street in snowbanks," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. "We know there are people who have been stuck in cars for more than two days."
Other storm-related deaths were reported throughout the country. In Erie County, New York, 12 individuals died. In Niagara County, New York, a man died from carbon monoxide poisoning after snow blocked his furnace.
At least 10 died in Ohio, including several people involved in multiple car crashes. Similarly, six bike riders were killed in separate crashes in Missouri, Kansas, and Kentucky. A woman in Vermont passed away after she was struck by a falling branch and a man in Colorado froze during the freezing cold temperatures. In Wisconsin, a woman fell through river ice in cold waters.
