Death toll from winter storm reaches 50 amid freezing temperatures: Report

Misty Severi

December 26, 09:36 AM December 26, 09:36 AM

More than 50 people have died from extreme temperatures as of Monday morning after a majority of the United States faced freezing temperatures and heavy snow from a large winter storm.

The deaths during the "bomb cyclone" were recorded in at least 12 states, including Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, according to NBC News.

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The Buffalo, New York, area was hit the hardest over the weekend, with a "band of heavy lake effect snow" producing two to three inches of snow every hour, with as much as six to 12 inches of snow accumulated. Jefferson and Lewis counties accumulated as much as one to two feet of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

The death toll in Buffalo was 14 as of Monday morning, a Buffalo spokesperson told NBC. The Buffalo police confirmed that at least 10 of them had died outside or in their cars, according to the outlet.

At least 15,000 people in the Buffalo National Grid are without electricity as well, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY). Restoring the power might be delayed until Tuesday because of the harsh conditions and limited travel ability. However, thousands of utility forces have been deployed to deal with emergency situations.

Hazardous conditions are expected to continue in the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. It is expected to ease around the new year.

“The life-threatening cold temperatures, and in combination with dangerous wind chills, will create a potentially life-threatening hazard for travelers that become stranded, individuals that work outside, livestock, and domestic pets,” the National Weather Service said.

More than 1,586 flights have been canceled by Monday morning, with at least 1,875 delayed, over the weather conditions, according to Flight Aware.

The West Coast is also bracing for a storm, as forecasters predict rain and moisture in the Pacific Ocean could cause flash floods on Tuesday.