After its fierce Arctic winds forced over a million customers to lose power earlier in the day and created travel havoc around Christmas, a terrifying winter storm continued to batter portions of the United States on Saturday evening with blizzard conditions.
Eight states have reported at least 17 weather-related fatalities, as the third day of dangerously low temperatures, blizzards, and heavy snow blanketed most of the country, including the typically temperate south.
Governor Kathy Hochul of the severely impacted New York State summoned the National Guard to Buffalo and Erie County, where emergency services, according to authorities, have largely crumbled in the face of terrible blizzard conditions.