A new Arctic blast of winter weather is hitting the Great Lakes and Northeast, leading to chaos and widespread snowfall. Lake effect snow from Lake Erie is expected to continue through Wednesday, with a strong clipper storm set to bring heavy snow from Quebec to Michigan on Thursday. Around 5 million people are under winter weather and lake effect snow warnings, with some areas expected to receive up to 12 inches of snow. Temperatures in parts of the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast are 10 to 15 degrees below seasonal averages.
The extreme weather has caused transport chaos, with a crash on Interstate 94 in Michigan involving 14 vehicles and three semi-trucks. In Pennsylvania, homes and vehicles have been buried in over five feet of snow, leading to abandoned cars blocking streets and overwhelming tow companies. Erie Police responded to 92 cases of abandoned cars on Monday, urging motorists to stay off the roads.
In Erie, Pennsylvania, drivers were seen digging their cars out of more than a foot of snow, with one video showing a driver attempting to move their vehicle covered in several feet of snow. In New York, a livestock barn roof collapsed under the weight of snow, killing five cows and injuring 100 others. A lake effect snow warning is in effect for the region until Tuesday evening.
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