Record-breaking snowfall that buried towns near Buffalo, New York, and killed at least 14 people posed a major flooding threat Saturday with temperatures forecast to rise.

Areas of western New York that got socked with more than six feet (two meters) of snow this week are now are under a flood warning, the National Weather Service said.

The zone was previously under a flood watch, which urges people to prepare for a possibility, while a more serious flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

The warning was in effect in northern Erie, Genessee, Wyoming, Chatauqua, Cattaraugus, southern Erie counties, including the cities of Buffalo, Batavia, Warsaw, Jamestown, Olean, Orchard Park and Springville.

More than 600,000 people live in the area, where thousands particularly in towns south of Buffalo have been trapped in their homes for nearly a week — unable to emerge from doors they cannot open due to heavy snowpack.

Authorities urged people to clear storm drains in front of their homes, and to get any valuables out of their basements.

In Lackawanna, National Guard troops were out enforcing the travel ban, officials said.

"Only the city of Buffalo south of Seneca Street, the city of Lackawanna and the town of Eden have driving bans now," tweeted Erie county executive Mark Poloncarz.

Snowfall roughly equivalent to a year's supply of snow in two days saw the National Guard called up and could yet prompt a federal disaster declaration, local officials said.

Many of those who died lost their lives while clearing mounds of heavy snow from their cars and homes.

And the massive weight of the snow was a key worry for many. Those who could shoveled flat and low-angled roofs, but many older residents were not physically able to do so.

The roof at the Flexovit machinery plant in Evans "collapsed" Friday, Erie county authorities said. The plant appeared to have major structural damage, and a roof that has fallen in almost completely.

But the same county authorities have not yet addressed if people were inside, or whether people were evacuated at a time when many roads were blocked, and authorities' manpower stretched to the breaking point. Evans police declined requests for comment.

The rock band Interpol said they were stranded more than 50 hours on their tour bus by the storm outside Buffalo, forcing them to cancel two consecutive nights of concerts in Montreal and Toronto.

Toll rises to 13 in killer NY state snowstorm
New York (AFP) Nov 21, 2014 –

The death toll rose to 13 Friday from a killer snowstorm in western New York state where rising temperatures and heavy rain will compound misery by causing severe flooding into next week.

Blizzards dumped a year's supply of snow in just days south of Buffalo city, bringing down 30 buildings, imperiling mobile homes and paralyzing communities.

Erie County chief executive Mark Poloncarz said 13 people had died and warned that further deaths could not be ruled out as rescue workers continue to dig out vehicles trapped in the snow.

The latest fatalities were two elderly people who died during and immediately after being evacuated from a nursing home, and a 50-year-old man found dead in his vehicle.

The National Weather Service says "lake effect snow," created when frigid air moves over warm lake waters, remains a risk until noon but that only a few more inches are expected to fall Friday.

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state thruway would reopen in parts to essential travel from 3:00 pm but warned against unnecessary journeys as conditions remain perilous.

The improving weather would also allow for the massive snow removal effort to quicken pace, with the National Guard bringing in extra people and the arrival of additional equipment.

Cuomo, who has declared a state of emergency, said he had spoken to the White House on Thursday and said President Barack Obama sent his best wishes and that a full damages assessment could yet prompt a federal disaster declaration.

"It's a matter of life and death literally," said Cuomo.

– Worse than blizzard of 1977-

Poloncarz described "Winter Storm Knife" as one of the worst he could remember and said the worst-hit areas had been affected more than during the deadly blizzard of 1977.

"In the areas worst impacted it was worse than 1977 but it did not hit the entire community as did in 1977," he told reporters.

"Now we have to be prepared for the flooding. There will be flooding in all likelihood starting on Sunday," he said.

The flood risk will remain until Tuesday with some areas set to receive five to six feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) of water in a very short period of time, he warned.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said 1,600 trucks have already carted 32,000 tons of snow out of south Buffalo.

"We're asking people in the areas that may experience flooding to remove items from your basement," he told a news conference with Cuomo and Poloncarz.