On December 26, 2022 local time, in Buffalo, New York, the United States, vehicles were driving on a snow covered street. Visual Chinese Map

A super blizzard is hitting many states in the United States. Climate forecasters call it a weather event that "only happens once in a generation".

During the busiest Christmas travel week in the United States, record low temperatures, strong winds and violent snowstorms affected hundreds of millions of Americans.

The Guardian reported on December 26 that the storm had killed at least 48 people,

and the number was expected to continue to rise when many residents were trapped and tens of thousands of families and businesses were without power.

At the same time, the cold air also hit Florida and other usually warmer states. Under the influence of extreme weather, tens of thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed,

and highways have become more dangerous due to snowstorms. According to the New York Times, in Buffalo, the worst hit city in western New York State, "even rescue workers are trapped on the road".

"Deadly" snowstorm

More than 200 million Americans received the winter extreme weather warning before entering the Christmas weekend. Buffalo and its surrounding areas became the worst hit areas.

The blizzard lasted 48 hours, with almost zero visibility. The thick snow almost covered the cars parked on the road. Thousands of families spent the Christmas in darkness because of power failure.

On December 26, local officials in Buffalo announced that the disastrous snowstorm was the deadliest winter extreme weather in the region in 50 years.

At least 28 people, ranging from 26 to 93 years old, were killed in the disaster. Among them was a 27 year old man who died of carbon monoxide poisoning after heavy snow blocked the outlet of his stove.

More accidents occurred after people failed to comply with the local driving ban. The police in Buffalo wrote in a statement that most of the deaths were "found outdoors and in the car".

The police said that two "isolated" robberies occurred during the storm.

At the same time, storm related deaths were reported across the United States: 10 people were killed in Ohio, including a utility worker who was electrocuted and killed in multiple car accidents;

Six drivers were killed in accidents in Missouri, Kansas and Kentucky; A Vermont woman was killed by a windblown branch; There are homeless people dying in the temperature below zero in Colorado; Another man fell into a glacier in Wisconsin.

The New York Times pointed out that the local rescue team even found themselves in need of rescue - all fire engines and 11 ambulances in Buffalo were once trapped in the snow.

"The rescuers are rescuing the rescuers, which is terrible." Mark Poloncarz, an administrative staff member in Erie County, New York,

pointed out at the press conference held on the afternoon of the 26th that the roads in this area are still impassable,

and most of the roads are under the driving ban, which means that only emergency vehicles and necessary staff are allowed to pass on the roads.

Although nearly 10000 people are still facing power failure, heating system failure and insufficient food reserves, officials still urge people to stay indoors,

because driving at this time will not only bring danger to themselves, but cars trapped in snow may also block ambulances or rescue teams.

The Guardian pointed out that the scope of Oriot's influence extends from the Great Lakes region near Canada to the Rio Grande River on the border between the United States and Mexico.

Due to the interruption of power lines and extreme weather, a large number of flights have been affected and lead to potential supply chain problems.

According to the Washington Post, from December 22 to the morning of 26, more than 16000 flights in the United States have been canceled.

As of 6:00 p.m. on the 26th, 5534 flights in the United States had been canceled that day, and more than 17300 flights had been delayed.

"A battle with nature"

The National Weather Service classifies snowstorms as snow blowing or snowfall with wind speeds of at least 35 miles per hour for at least three hours.

These conditions usually result in heavy snow cover and reduced visibility to about a quarter of a mile (about 0.4 km) or less.

It is reported that about 60% of Americans faced different levels of storm warnings during this Christmas holiday.

From the east of the American Rocky Mountains to the Appalachian Mountains, the temperature dropped sharply below the normal level.

According to the National Weather Service, the cold Arctic air "covers most of the eastern half of the United States and will slowly transition to a mild state". On the 26th,

the strengthening of cold air from Canada may cause more snowfall in the Great Plains and the central and western regions of the United States.

The eastern region will still be in severe cold, but the snowstorm caused by the downwind of the Great Lakes will gradually end on the 27th.

Although meteorologists predict that the freezing conditions in Buffalo will improve later this week,

the western half of the United States will be ready for another storm - the hurricane will move across the west coast to the Rocky Mountains, which poses the threat of strong winds and flash floods.

Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York State, said that the extreme snowstorm sweeping North America made Buffalo look like a war zone.

"This is a battle with nature. Since the 22nd, she has been attacking us with everything she has."

Federal and state rescue and self rescue

On December 26, President Biden of the United States announced that, in view of the emergency situation caused by the extreme winter storms faced by New York State,

he ordered federal assistance to support state and local rescue efforts.

Biden authorized the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts aimed at alleviating the difficulties and suffering caused by the emergency to local residents,

and to provide appropriate assistance for the necessary emergency measures authorized by Chapter V of the Stafford Act, in order to save lives, protect property, public health and safety,

and reduce or avoid the threat of disasters in Erie County and Genassi County.

Local officials also said on the evening of the 25th that state emergency rescue workers had assisted in nearly 500 rescues, including midwifery.

County officials appealed to volunteers for help and hoped they could provide their own snowmobiles.

In Buffalo City, due to the delay in the arrival of professional rescue workers and the fact that people often cannot reach the shelters, residents have to save themselves.

In this way, a restaurant has become a hotel, and the stranded people stay on the top floor of the bar.

The doctors and nurses stopped their Christmas celebration. The medical staff who were still at home published their location and telephone number on the Internet, hoping that people in need nearby could find them.

A tow truck driver also helped deliver life-saving drugs.

Snowstorm support groups like these have sprung up on Facebook. The trapped people are seeking help, and more than one family is looking for midwives to help guide the delivery of pregnant women.

Leon Horace Miller, 52, from Buffalo, joined his landscaping and snow removal company in the rescue operation.

By the late afternoon of Christmas Day, he had saved 14 people from the snowdrift or moved them out of the houses without heating or electricity. "It has been going on since the 23rd," Miller said. "Everyone knows we have big trucks."

But many people who want to be volunteers say that the roads are still impassable and they can't go to work.

AIDO snow removal tool, with retractable snow removal brush, is used for snow removal of various models.