Freezing Winter Leads to a Fatal Blizzard in Buffalo

least 40 fatalities. Now officials are facing many questions from the public. What more could have been done? Why weren’t they prepared? Had the county waited too long to shut down roadways resulting in the deaths of citizens?

The Knightly News

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Over the holiday break, a once-in-a-generation blizzard hit Buffalo, New York, resulting in power outages, fatalities and many questions. Buffalo officials prepared themselves for another storm with a small group of emergency responders and supplies, but they never could have predicted what was to come. Prior to the storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda said, “The snow, coupled with wind gusts approaching hurricane force, will create enormous drifts and impossible travel.” The deadly mix of wind and snow will be embedded in history and the minds of citizens forever. Buffalo is accustomed to some snow every once in a while, but this storm hit them particularly hard. ABC News said, “The icy wind chill and the plunging temperatures left Buffalo in minus 10 and minus 30 degree weather for days.” The combination of hurricane-force winds and lake-effect snow resulted in a fatal storm leaving buffalo citizen’s in shambles.

The storm lasted about four days and left up to 50 inches of snow in parts of Buffalo. While Buffalo weather officials did have a travel advisory, there was not an outright travel ban until it was too late. Many people, including emergency response teams, were left in their cars or stranded on the icy streets resulting in at

Along with the Buffalo citizens, around 150 million people across the United States (U.S.) faced abnormally frigid conditions this winter. U.S. President Joe Biden declared a federal emergency for the state of New York in an effort to recover what had been lost. Many states, like California and Oklahoma, declared a state of emergency and some states even activated the National Guard to help combat the effects of the winter storms. Millions were left without power as the winds and blizzard conditions took out power lines and grids. These extremely frigid conditions are responsible for more than twice as many deaths as extreme heat according to a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. So far at least 56 storm-related deaths are reported across the U.S according to CNN.

Buffalo experienced a “bomb cyclone” which is the most intense breed of mid-latitude storm. Due to the recent drop in temperatures and extreme weather conditions, scientists question what the cause is. According to The Washington Post, new research reveals that global warming and climate change could be to blame. The Arctic is warming at an alarming rate due to the global emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide according to the New York Times which would cause the Arctic air to move southward. The rising global temperatures creates warmer winters than normal, but on the other hand it changes the atmospheric patterns. This change pushes outbreaks of the arctic polar air to shift into other climates. Due to global warming, these polar vortex outbreaks are not expected to stop.

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Horror in Idaho: What Really Happened?

On Nov. 13, 2022, four students at the University of Idaho were found stabbed to death in a house near the campus in Moscow, Idaho. Ethan Chapin (20), Madison Mogen (21), Xana Kernodle (20) and Kaylee Goncalves (21) fell victim to leading suspect Bryan Kohberger who is facing four counts of first-degree murder and a count of felony burglary. It took police more than six weeks to identify a suspect, and now the 28-year-old is held in custody without bail.

According to Moscow Police, Goncalves and Mogen went out to the Corner Club Bar in Moscow from approximately 9:00 pm on Nov. 12 to 1:45 am on Nov. 13. Chapin and Kernodle, who were dating, went to the Sigma Chi House on the University of Idaho campus between 10:00 pm on Nov. 12 to 1:30 am on Nov. 13. Two other roomates who survived the attack, Dylan Mortenson and Bethany Funke, were also out in Moscow that night. At approximately 1:30 am Goncalves and Mogen were seen on video at a local food vendor called the “Grub Truck.” Both of the roomates made statements that all of the occupants of the off-campus rental home on King Road were home by 2:00 am on Nov. 13 and asleep or in their rooms by 4:00 am. The statements made by the roomates were revealed in the chilling 18-page affidavit released on Jan. 5 that outlines key evidence that exposes Kohenberger as a suspect. However, at approximately 4:00 am, Kernodle received a DoorDash order to the King Road Residence and went back to her room.

According to the affidavit, Mortenson stated that she originally went to sleep in her bedroom located on the second floor and was awoken at around 4:00 am by strange noises, crying and a man’s voice saying something to the effect of “it’s ok, I’m going to help you.” The roommate opened her door two times, and on the third time saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask who appeared to be a man with bushy eyebrows walking towards her. The male walked past her, and Mortenson stood “frozen” according to court documents. Investigators believe that the murders took place between 4:00 am and 4:25 am. According to ABC News, authorities were not alerted until 11:58 am by a 911 phone call from one of the roommate’s phone.

While investigating the crime scene, a knife sheath was found on the bed of Mogen and Goncalves’ bedroom

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