Stunning views from Niagara Falls show inches of fresh snow after a devastating storm hit Buffalo and left dozens dead.
A rainbow was seen across the tourist hotspot on Tuesday as spectators in winter coats gathered to look at the partially frozen waterfalls.
Aerial shots captured the aftermath of the catastrophic storm, which hit about 25 miles south of Niagara Falls. Mountains of ice built up near the waterfront and the vast expanse was blanketed in thick, white snow.
A whopping 3,160 tons of water flows over the Falls every second, meaning it almost never entirely freezes over due to the sheer volume of water. Instead, it is often the surface water and mist which freezes over.
The monster storm swept through New York state over Christmas weekend and quickly became the deadliest storm in 50 years. About 50 people were dead as of Tuesday.
‘Unfortunately, police expects that number to rise,’ Byron Brown, Buffalo mayor Tweeted.
Kathy Hochul, New York state’s governor and a Buffalo native, described the storm aftermath as resembling ‘a war zone.’
A wider aerial view showed the spectacular Niagara Falls that shares a border with Canada
The stunning view was complemented with sunshine all around. Building can be seen off in the distance
Aerial shots captured the stunning aftermath of Niagara Falls, New York on Tuesday after a monster storm swept through the western part of the state
Water flowed to the bottom of the Niagara Falls and onto piles of ice and snow mounted onto rocks
A tourist was seen bundled up in a winter coat and hat while taking a selfie with the partially frozen waterfalls. A tower viewer was seen completely covered in ice
Tourist in massive coats were seen gazing at the partial frozen water falls, including two dogs
US President Joe Biden on Monday approved an emergency declaration for New York state, freeing up funds to help it recover from the disaster.
Buffalo’s international airport remains closed until Wednesday morning and a driving ban remained in effect for the city.
‘You can absolutely go out and walk to check on neighbors, go to open stores, etc. But do not drive,’ tweeted the county executive, Mark Poloncarz.
The National Weather Service forecast a respite of warmer temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) by the weekend, although officials warned that melting snow could result in minor flooding.
The extreme weather over the weekend sent temperatures to below freezing in all mainland US states, including in Texas along the Mexico border where some arriving migrants have struggled to find shelter.
At one point on Saturday, nearly 1.7 million customers were without electricity in the biting cold, according to tracker poweroutage.us.
Road ice and whiteout conditions also led to the temporary closure of some of the nation’s busiest transport routes, including part of the cross-country Interstate 70 highway.
Even in an area known for snowfall, County Executive Mark Poloncarz called the blizzard ‘the worst storm probably in our lifetime’.
An aerial shot showed inches of snow off to the bottom sides of the waterfall. Mist was seen evaporating into the air as the water from the top reached the bottom
Inches of snow and ice covered trees and plants. Certain areas of Niagara falls remains frozen after the storm this past weekend
A closer aerial view showed piles of ice at the bottom of the waterfall and around the rocks
What appears to be piles of rocks and ice were seen on a small leading into the water at the bottom of the waterfall
A bridge was seen over Niagara Falls without a trace of snow as tourist made there ways on the paved pathway
Spectators gathered around the frozen railing and overlooked the falls. Some snapped a picture of the spectacular sighting
A side aerial view of the falls showed the hill side completely covered in inches of snow
Another aerial shot captured the blocked off area of Niagara Falls that is completely covered in a blanket of snow
Empty seats that are usually used to observe the beauty of the area were occupied by snow
Several spectators gazed out at the falls with buildings seen in the background
Tourists were seen walking along a pathway in between fully iced areas
One man walked around the area wearing a Santa Clause costume two days after Christmas. He carried a brown sack with him
Officials appeared to have blocked off frozen pathways with ‘Danger’ signs. Areas appeared to be completely layered with ice
Trash cans also got a temporary new look and were covered in ice
An ice pathway can be seen above with several icicles hanging from stair and walkway railings
One man took a picture of the snowy sites. Meanwhile, the tower views were covered in about an inch of ice
Spectators overlooked the moving waters from behind frozen railings
One spectator in a blue beanie can be seen taking a photo of the falls as many gathered around the railing
Tourist used the beautiful sight as a photo opportunity
What appears to be rocks and tree roots were seen in the water completely covered in ice. Icicles were seen hanging from the tree branches and extending into the water
Visitors were seen walking along a parkway that appeared to have been recently paved