At least 10 people have died in a massive snowstorm that hit a portion of Western New York this week.
Television station WKBW reported Thursday afternoon the eighth victim, a man in his 60s, went into cardiac arrest while moving a snow plow out of a shed. Later in the day, WKBW reported the Erie County Health Commissioner announced two more deaths due to exposure.
Some died from heart attacks — at least two while shoveling snow. One death on Tuesday was a person who was pinned by a car he was trying to push out of snow.
Several homes and at least one business experienced collapsing roofs due to the weight of snow, which is expected to reach 8 feet by tonight.
Storm Shield weather radio app Meteorologist Jason Meyers said some of the strongest bands of the lake-effect snow may fall at rates of three or more inches per hour, causing extremely problematic visibility.
"A few more light snow showers are possible Friday, but accumulations will likely be measured in inches as opposed to feet,” Meyers said. "By Saturday and Sunday, temperatures begin to warm up, which means the snow will stop falling. Unfortunately, precipitation will not."
A cold front and another weather system is expected to move through western New York, bringing rain showers to the region, he said.
"The rain, coupled with the melting snow, will likely lead to flooding at the beginning of next week.”
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