Lake-Effect snow hits towns from Ohio to New York, impacting travel

Lake-effect snow warnings remain active through Tuesday night across parts of Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania. Winter storm warnings and advisories have also been issued for Michigan, particularly along the Lake Michigan coastline, where snowfall could reach up to a foot.

Inland communities are seeing even greater accumulations, prompting some areas, including Gaylord, Michigan to cancel schools. Since Thanksgiving, Gaylord has recorded over three feet of snow, underscoring the severity of the storm’s affect.

Have There Been Any Major Traffic Incidents Due to the Lake Effect?

In southwest Michigan, a multi-vehicle crash involving 14 passenger cars and three semitrucks critically injured one driver and temporarily shut down Interstate 94 near Hartford in both directions during Monday’s whiteout conditions. Michigan state Police attributed the crash to drivers traveling too fast for the snowy weather.

Authorities also reported over a dozen vehicle slide-offs in the area, urging motorists to reduce their speed and exercise caution on the icy roads.

How Has the Lake-Effect Snow Impacted Residents?

Snowfall persisted Monday across the Great Lakes region, leaving storm-weary residents to contend with even greater accumulations after days of relentless plowing and shoveling. Lake-effect snow blanketed parts of western New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where many areas had already received over a foot of snow in the past four days.

The National Weather Service reported that more than five feet of snow had accumulated east of Lake Ontario during the same period. Snowfall is expected to continue through Tuesday in the rural areas south of Buffalo, adding to the challenges faced by communities.

“It was so much, so quick, that we got buried,” said Rebecca Chamberlin, a resident of Cassadaga, New York, east of Lake Erie. Chamberlin, who lives with her husband and two sons, has been battling the relentless snowfall, which has at times been wet and heavy. “If it had been, you know, over a period of a week or more, it wouldn’t have been so bad,” she added, reflecting the challenges faced by many in the region.

How Have Rural Communities Been Impacted by the Lake-Effect Snow?

Heavy lake-effect snow caused the collapse of a barn in Arkwright, New York, killing five cows and trapping about 100 others, officials reported Monday in a social media update. Emergency crews worked tirelessly in deep snow throughout the day to rescue the remaining animals. Authorities have urged farmers to inspect their barns and buildings for signs of structural stress or damage while the snowfall continues to intensify.

The picturesque village of Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, has been buried under more than four feet of snow, with the National Weather Service forecasting additional snowfall throughout the week. Residents are bracing for continued winter conditions while the storm persists.

“At this point, it’s just annoying,” said Ryan Colby, who lives a snowball’s toss from Lake Erie in the Ohio village. “We’ve just been getting hit left and right with it. I’ve been getting up every couple hours and shoveling out the driveway and the porch just so we don’t get too, too buried again.”

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press