November 19, 2014 10:42 AM EST
N ew York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Tuesday for several counties in the Buffalo area as a severe winter storm brought more than three feet of snow. By Wednesday, more than six feet — six feet! — of snow had fallen in certain areas.
The time-lapse video, recorded Tuesday , shows the lake-effect storm creeping over the surface of Lake Erie and into the city.
These Photos From Buffalo's Snowstorm Will Make You Want to Stay Inside Until Spring A band of storm clouds moves across Lake Erie and into Buffalo, N.Y., on Nov. 18, 2014 Gary Wiepert—AP Wil Fuentes posted this photo of a neighborhood completely covered in snow. Wil Fuentes (@wilfuen ) via Instagram Trixie Firecracker posted this image saying "Oliver is wondering when his backyard will be clear, he's not too happy with our 6 foot path. #snow #snowedin #winter #winterhasarrived #buffalo #716 #tellelsatoquitit #pit #pitbull #mybaby" Trixi Firecracker (@trixifirecracker ) via Instagram Angelo Carpenter posted this image to twitter, stating: "Took him 30 minutes to get to my house and he lives 3 houses down from me..." Angelo Carpenter (@Angelo_Pulvino ) via Twitter James Wisniewski posted this image to Instagram, saying "Welcome to Buffalo." James Wisniewski (@mr_wisniewski ) via Instagram David Jednat posted this image saying "First snow of the season. #buffalony #westernnewyork #slightflurries #gladihaveaplowguy" David Jednat (@davidjednat ) via Instagram David Rodriguez, of Buffalo, N.Y., posted this photo to Instagram, stating: "Mother digging her way to the car to retrieve some personal items. I grew up with winters like this. Pic via my brother, @izzyroyale David Rodriguez (@idrod ) via Instagram Chelsea Tarasek posted this photo to Instagram, stating: "It's a winter wonderland!!" Chelsea Tarasek (@chelseatarasek ) via Instagram Scott Naauao posted this picture of "The morning snow." Scott Naauao (@naauao ) via Instagram Corey Reichle posted this photo showing the scene "Outside my door this morning." Corey Reichle (@CoreyReichle ) via Twitter Instagram user posted this image, saying "My current situation stuck n a blizzard!!!! Highways n road shut down we just stuck. #Buffalo #NY #Blizzard #IWantToGoHome" slickbossman (@slickbossman ) via Instagram Jackie Roach posted this photo to Instagram of her mom, saying "#mom and I should be out of the driveway by march or so. #buffalo #snowstorm #lakeeffect #southbuffalo #iloveit" Jackie Roach (@jacki_roach ) via Instagram James Yusczyk posted this photo after getting off work: "Got out of work 2 hours early thanks to the snow... Hi car..." James Yusczyk (@jamesyusczyk ) via Instagram Tanya Spar-Skipper (@tskippar ) via Instagram Fran shot this image from her home in South Buffalo, saying 'Mother Nature's way of saying "it's going to be just fine'" Fran Dyche(@frantastic_143 ) via Instagram More Must-Reads from TIME