At least 31 people have died in Buffalo's Erie County due to destructive winter storm

Vehicles are seen abandoned in heavy snowfall in downtown Buffalo, New York, on Monday. Emergency crews counted the grim costs of a colossal winter storm that brought Christmas chaos to the U.S., especially in hard-hit western New York. (Joed Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

The massive winter storm that has affected much of the country has claimed at least 49 lives so far – more than half of them in western New York.

At least 31 people have died in Erie County – which includes the city of Buffalo – because of the storm as of Tuesday evening, according to the county health department. That the number could increase.