Cold weather has left Americans stranded in cars for days in New York State

At least 49 people died in western New York state, most of them in Buffalo, during a terrible winter storm that continues to hit North America.

A state official said some people were stuck in cars for more than two days during the “probably” worst storm of their lives.

More snow is expected in parts of the state by this Tuesday (27/12) by up to 23 centimeters, meteorologists said.

Storm caused by a bomb hurricane (read more belowIt killed 56 people stretching from Canada to the Mexican border.

US President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration allowing federal support for the State of New York.

“My heart is with those who lost loved ones this weekend,” he tweeted.

The owner of a small, unidentified family store in East Buffalo said looters broke into his shop on Christmas Day.

“They took everything. People took the toys, the electronics and the speakers,” he said.

He estimated that equipment worth US$50,000 (R$260,000) was stolen. He said he called the police, “but they told me they were too busy rescuing the elderly.”

“We can see some kind of light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s not the end yet,” said Mark Poloncarz, an official from Erie County, where the city of Buffalo is located.

“This is a generational storm,” he said, warning that the county has yet to begin assessing the “total number” of those killed.

Citing the local coroner’s office, Poloncarz said most of the victims died of heart problems while shoveling snow or crashing into their car due to poor visibility. Some were found dead in their vehicles.

State Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, said last week: “This is [como] go to a war zone; It’s shocking to see cars on the roads.”

He added that many emergency vehicles were unable to reach the hardest-hit areas or were stuck in snow.

A local family with young children aged two to six had to wait 11 hours before being rescued in the early hours of Christmas Day (25/12).

“I had already given up hope,” Baba Zila Santiago told CBS News. He claimed he managed to warm up by starting the engine and kept his anxiety at bay by playing with the kids.

More casualties are expected to be discovered as melting snowdrifts reveal stranded vehicles and allow access to remote homes.

A “bomb cyclone” winter storm, which occurs when atmospheric pressure drops, causing heavy snowfall and winds, interrupted travel in the United States.

Forecasters say it will ease over the next few days, but continue to recommend avoiding travel unless essential.

Over the weekend, an estimated 250,000 homes and businesses suffered power outages, despite the gradual return of electricity.

Storm-related deaths were also reported in Vermont, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Colorado. In South Florida, temperatures dropped so much that iguanas froze and fell from trees.

Montana was the country hardest hit by the cold, with temperatures dropping to -45C.

In Canada, the provinces of Ontario and Quebec were affected by the storm.

Prince Edward County, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Ontario, has declared a state of emergency and had to pull snowplows off the streets as they risk being stranded, Mayor Steve Ferguson told CBC News.

It was reported that many vehicles were stuck in the snow.

Last week, four people were killed when a bus capsized on an icy road near the town of Merritt in the western Canadian province of British Columbia.

What is a bomb cyclone?

A bomb cyclone is a term given to a rapidly intensifying storm in which central air pressure drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.

These events are called bomb cyclones because of the explosive force caused by the rapid pressure drop.

These types of storms bring weather conditions ranging from blizzards to severe thunderstorms and precipitation.

Bomb hurricanes are most common on the east coast of the United States and Canada, where the cold soils and warm air of the Gulf Stream provide ideal conditions for their development.

– This text was published at https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-64101998.