Heavy winds are causing chaos across the northeastern United States, including travel delays and power outages. But on New York’s Lake Erie, winds blew a wall of ice onto the shore, videos show.
The Niagara Parks Police Service posted video footage to Twitter showing ice stacked up along the shore near the road.
The police force said that “strong winds” are blowing the ice over Lake Erie’s retaining wall on the Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. “Drive with caution,” it said.
@NiagParksPolice advising that @NiagaraParks Roads Department closing Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. Strong winds blowing ice over the retaining wall from the lake. Drive with caution. Video courtesy @NiagRegPolice Insp. Garvey…. pic.twitter.com/RdXh5HYxfx
— Niagara Parks Police (@NiagParksPolice) February 24, 2019
Other Twitter users shared photos of the ice wall in Canada.
“An incredible sight along the Niagara River in Fort Erie as strong winds from today’s storm have pushed hundreds of chunks of ice on shore over barriers,” wrote Cody Law, tweeting from Ontario.
“This ice tsunami is one of the craziest things I’ve ever witnessed,” David Piano wrote, adding the ice is “starting to bulldoze trees and street lamps.”
An incredible sight along the Niagara River in Fort Erie as strong winds from today’s storm have pushed hundreds of chunks of ice on shore over barriers. #ONstorm pic.twitter.com/QYgHa7PcQb
— Cody Law (@CodyLaw1) February 24, 2019
According to the New York Power Authority, the winds raised water levels in eastern Lake Erie.
“The ice boom is designed to submerge during high wind and high water events, allowing ice to overtop the boom. The flooding is not due to the ice boom. This is a wind-driven event,” the agency tweeted.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Buffalo also warned that winds in Lake Ontario could reach 75 mph.
The ice boom is designed to submerge during high wind and high water events, allowing ice to overtop the boom. The flooding is not due to the ice boom. This is a wind-driven event. #NiagaraRiver #IceBoom #WNY
— NY Power Authority (@NYPAenergy) February 25, 2019
Those winds were described as “very strong” and “damaging” by the office.
“Winds of this magnitude will result in extensive damage to trees and power lines,” the NWS office wrote, adding that power outages will be “widespread.”
“Buildings which are under construction and older, deteriorating buildings may experience significant damage or even collapse,” the NWS said.
Large amounts of ice could be seen along Lake Hoover in New York’s Lake Erie ((Town of Hamburg Emergency Services))Adding that it’s a “particularly dangerous” event, the office advised people not to travel or at least be aware of extensive damage in the area.
If the winds get too strong, one should seek shelter in a building.
“Temperatures will plummet to below freezing as we progress through the early evening hours,” it also warned, adding it will result in “rapid freezing” along untreated roads, according to the NWS. This could cause black ice.
The area was evacuated ((Town of Hamburg Emergency Services)Large chunks of ice around the Hoover Beach area of Hamburg, New York, forced officials to issue a voluntary evacuation order.
“Residents in Hoover Beach can expect the Woodlawn FD to come door to door accounting for residents,” the town wrote on Facebook.
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