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What 7 Feet Of Snow Looks Like: The 2014 Buffalo Blizzard

Be thankful you don’t live in Buffalo, New York — this week, record snowfalls pummeled the area, leaving some stranded or trapped in their homes, schools, and offices for days. Lifelong Buffalo residents are calling it worse than the Blizzard of 1977, the infamous snowstorm that created snow drifts up to 30 feet high. These photographs show just how intense and crippling this week’s storm has been:

A lone resident of Buffalo braves the storm. A lone resident of Buffalo braves the storm. Source: Buffalo News Aerial view of Buffalo blizzard rolling in. Aerial view of Buffalo blizzard rolling in. Source: WEBN Snowfall trapped this Buffalo resident inside his home. Snowfall trapped this Buffalo resident inside his home. Source: Twitter Behemoth storm clouds entering Buffalo. Behemoth storm clouds entering Buffalo. Source: YouTube Clouds roll in for Buffalo blizzard. Clouds rolling in for the Buffalo blizzard. Source: Instagram Snow covering a baseball stadium in Buffalo. Snow covering a baseball stadium in Buffalo. Source: Tim Ballisty Two Buffalo residents wait for the bus. Two Buffalo residents wait for the bus. Source: Reddit Buffalo blizzard as seen from above. Buffalo blizzard as seen from above. Source: Twitter An expected 50-70 inches (1.3-1.8 m) of snowfall in Buffalo. An expected 50-70 inches (1.3-1.8 m) of snowfall in Buffalo. Source: Instagram Instagram user Kyhenders shows the blizzard's path. Instagram user Kyhenders shows the blizzard's path. Source: Instagram A car with several feet of snow on its roof. A car with several feet of snow on its roof. Source: AP A dog navigates the heavy snowfalls in Buffalo A dog navigates the heavy snowfalls in Buffalo. Source: Reddit Bulldozer attempts to clear snow in Buffalo, NY. Stranded cars in a Buffalo parking lot. Stranded cars in a Buffalo parking lot. Source: Buffalo News Aftermath of the Buffalo Blizzard. Massive snowfalls pile up on a roof in Buffalo. Walking down a street, abandoned due to blizzard conditions. Walking down a street, abandoned due to blizzard conditions. Source: Mike Groll for AP A massive snowcloud descends onto Buffalo. Man shovels out massive snowfall in Buffalo, NY. Snowfalls heavy enough to break down doors occurred in Buffalo. Snowfalls heavy enough to break down doors occurred in Buffalo. Source: Reddit

The heavy, lake-effect snow (totaling 85 inches in some areas) has led to abandoned vehicles, food shortages, accounts of looting, and at least 7 deaths. Warmer temperatures are making the cleanup effort a bit easier, but Buffalo city officials warn that flooding and roof collapses might soon follow.

The people of Buffalo are resilient to this bitter weather, however-- there have been at least two reports of Buffalonians braving the blizzard with sleds packed full of cold beer. If that wasn't enough to convince you of Buffalo's unshakable character, here's a video of two brave Buffalo residents surfing Lake Erie during the blizzard:

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