Americans were warned to "stay out of Buffalo," as two storms in a month brought nearly a year's worth of snow.
the main points:
Buffalo residents say it is the worst storm they have ever seen
The driving ban remains in effect in the city in western New York
Heavy snow caused the cancellation of many domestic and international flights
With the driving ban still in place, soaring temperatures in western New York are expected to reveal more bodies in the ice banks in the coming days.
Authorities are also investigating the "unacceptable" number of flights canceled by Southwest Airlines, which accounted for the bulk of cancellations in the region.
This year's brutal blast of winter in the US has locked people in cars for days, shut down the city's airports and left some residents shivering without heat.
Much of the United States was left reeling from the ferocious winter storm, with at least two dozen additional deaths reported in parts of the country, and power outages in communities from Maine to Washington state.
Western New York was hardest hit by a deep freeze in the Arctic and a storm front that extended over most of the United States for several days south of the Mexican border.
"It's still snowing" in western New York, National Meteorologist Bob Oravik said, predicting another 2 inches [5 centimeters] to rise.
This might be the last snow.
"It's going to get warmer soon. By Thursday it will be high 46 [°F, or 8°C]. By Saturday it will be 54 [12°C]."
Oravik said Tuesday remained cool, with highs of -2°C and lows of -6°C.
NBC News said at least 60 people have been killed in weather-related incidents in recent days across the country.
Trisha Lograsso and her family huddled around a space fireplace in a makeshift hut in her living room in Buffalo on Monday.
She was without heat due to a gas leak, the temperature inside the house was 5.5 degrees Celsius, and burst pipes left her without running water.
"I've lived here my whole life, and this is the worst storm I've ever seen," said the 48-year-old.