By The Associated Press’s Kathy McCormack
During a storm that delivered even more snow to the Great Lakes region on Thursday, snow squalls—short bursts of heavy snow and high winds—created whiteout conditions in portions of the northeast.
According to officials, two persons in upstate New York died of heart attacks after shoveling snow. The fatalities were reported on Wednesday in Erie County, in western New York, which has experienced consistent snowfall since the conclusion of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, well before winter officially begins on December 21. After several inches of snow fell overnight and into the morning, several schools in Buffalo and the surrounding towns were canceled Thursday, and travel on the roads was backed up by car accidents.
In Ohio, traffic restrictions were in effect Thursday near Lake Erie in the northeastern part of the state, where storms earlier this week had dumped up to five feet of snow and more was expected. Up until early Saturday, a blizzard warning was in effect for a portion of Pennsylvania bordering the lake, and interstate speed limits were in place. Lake-effect snow warnings were in effect for the surrounding counties.
The Harrisburg region has experienced squalls, strong gusts, and power disruptions on Thursday while missing out on the heavy snowfall.
Across the state, power outages were beginning to increase. Poweroutage.com, a website that records outages around the country, reports that more than 14,000 customers were out in Pennsylvania on Thursday morning. Nearly 11,000 consumers in Connecticut were without power as the storm moved into New England. More than 12,000 customers in Virginia lost power due to strong winds farther to the south.
Cars are covered in snow on Thursday, December 5, 2024, close to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (The Grand Rapids Press/Neil Blake via AP)
On Thursday, December 5, 2024, snow covers streets and residences close to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (The Grand Rapids Press/Neil Blake via AP)
Ahead of the second round of lake-effect snow, which the National Weather Service predicts could deliver another foot of snow through Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine proclaimed a state of emergency in four counties.
Before the next round piles on top, crews were working to shovel snow off houses along Lake Erie in Ashtabula, Ohio. According to the city’s fire chief, the department has responded to over 100 snow-related incidents, including persons in need of medical attention, downed trees and power lines, and collapsed roofs.
Cars are covered in snow on Thursday, December 5, 2024, close to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (The Grand Rapids Press/Neil Blake via AP)
On Thursday, December 5, 2024, Dylan Burguard of Brattleboro, Vermont, and her 1-year-old son, Braedon Miller, construct a snowman following a snowstorm. (The Brattleboro Reformer/Kristopher Radder via AP)AP
According to meteorological service records, the storm produced up to 8 inches of snow in some areas of northern Connecticut. About 9 inches fell in some areas of northwest Massachusetts.
Numerous collisions occurred along roadways in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as a result of slick roads caused by snowfall that lasted overnight into Thursday morning.
In New England, many schools postponed opening or were closed for the day.
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