But the CNN said at least 52 people have died nationwide across several states including New York, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin.
In Buffalo, the BBC quoted a state official as saying that military police are being brought in to help manage traffic in the city, where a driving ban remains in place.
It reports that looting has been reported in parts of the city during the emergency.
The winter storm has also forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, including about 4,800 on Tuesday morning alone. Thousands of passengers have been left stranded at airports across the country.
Conditions are now expected to improve, with very little snowfall on Tuesday and slightly warmer weather on the way.
Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued a statement Tuesday pledging the panel would be looking into the causes behind Southwest Airlines’ cascade of flight cancellations.
“The problems at Southwest Airlines over the last several days go beyond weather,” she said in a statement obtained by CNN.
“The committee will be looking into the causes of these disruptions and its impact on consumers,” he said.
