- Photographs show frozen branches and icy patches amid the fast-flowing water
Breathtaking images show the frozen landscape around Niagara Falls on Monday after overnight temperatures reached -9C.
A thick layer of ice and snow on terrain surrounding the famous waterfall could be seen, as well as frozen branches, and icy patches amid the fast-flowing water.
The Falls froze in 1848 due to the cold conditions and an accumulation of ice glaciers preventing the flow of water.
Since then they have never frozen over, according to Niagara Parks’ records.
An estimated 22 million people visit Niagara Falls each year on both the American and Canadian sides.
Niagara Falls partially frozen due to extreme cold weather on Monday
Frozen branches at Niagara Falls. The Falls froze in 1848 due to sub-zero temperatures and an accumulation of ice glaciers stopping the flow of water. Since then they have never frozen over, according to Niagara Parks’ records
Thick layers of ice and snow around Niagara Falls. The famous waterfall is one of the world’s most visited sites
The frozen spectacle came as an atmospheric river pounded California with thunderstorms and hail on Monday.
However, the state was spared major damage as there were no tornadoes which had been forecast as a possibility.
Packing gusty winds, the storms knocked out power for more than 11,000 customers, flooded roads, knocked down trees and shut down Santa Barbara airport for the day.
As of 5pm, the 24-hour rainfall totals topped out around 3 to 4 inches in areas below Mount Shasta, one of California’s tallest peaks at 14,180 feet.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a tornado warning for parts of Plumas County and Butte County in the state’s north, but as of Monday evening the worst those areas received was hail and heavy thunderstorms, meteorologist Jeffrey Wood said.
Niagara Falls frozen at the sides due to the cold weather. An estimated 22 million people visit the Falls each year on both the American and Canadian sides
Packs of ice clung to the rocks at Niagara Falls after temperatures reached -9C on Sunday night
Frozen branches and mounds of ice above the surface of the water
An icy rock face beside the gushing waterfall on Monday
Ice formations on the surface of the water at Niagara Falls
Frozen branches on the banks of Niagara Falls during sub-zero temperatures
More significant damage was still possible as heavy rains were expected to douse much of northern California into Tuesday and southern California into Wednesday.
Los Angeles County could receive 3 to 5 inches of rain in the mountains and foothills, the weather service said.
Even so, the effects appeared to be far less significant than that from another atmospheric river two weeks ago that dumped up to a year’s worth of precipitation in some areas, knocked out power to nearly 1 million customers and killed nine people.
After historic precipitation a year ago effectively ended the state’s severe drought, California is again experiencing a wet year.
President Joe Biden on Monday declared a major disaster over severe storms that flooded the San Diego area in January, freeing up federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts.
Those rains killed three people and damaged more than 800 homes, the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom said.
