The death toll from a pre-Christmas snowstorm rose and paralyzed the Buffalo area and most parts of the country to 27 in western New York, where the area emerged from one of the worst weather-related disasters in its history.

The dead were found in their cars, homes, and on the ice banks.

Some also died while shoveling snow.

The storm now blamed has swept most of the country, killing at least 48 people nationwide, with rescue and recovery efforts continuing on Monday.

It is worth mentioning that the snowstorm hit western New York on Friday and Saturday, stranding motorists, cutting off power, and preventing emergency crews from reaching residents in frozen homes and parked cars.

Huge amounts of snow also nearly covered the cars on Monday, and there were thousands of homes, some decorated with unlit displays, that were dark due to power outages.

Authorities in Erie County in western New York confirmed the death toll rose to 27 people in various incidents related to a snowstorm that struck most parts of the United States late last week.

Erie County, where the large city of Buffalo is located, accounts for nearly half of the total number of weather-related casualties in the country.

District head Mark Poloncarz wrote on Twitter: "The medical examiner's office has confirmed so far 25 storm-related deaths.”

At least 50 people were killed in the United States due to the devastating snowstorm hitting the country.

According to NBC News, deaths were reported in 12 states: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.