Breathtaking images reveal Niagara Falls partially frozen in the extreme cold weather as northern United States is hit by winter storm and temperatures plummet to -9

Breathtaking images show the frozen landscape around Niagara Falls on Monday after overnight temperatures reached -9 degrees Celsius.

A thick layer of ice and snow could be seen covering the terrain around the famous waterfall, as well as frozen branches and icy patches amid the rushing water.

The falls froze in 1848 due to cold conditions and a buildup of ice glaciers that blocked the flow of water.

Since then, they have never frozen again, according to Niagara Parks records.

An estimated 22 million people visit Niagara Falls every year, on both the American and Canadian sides.

Frozen branches at Niagra Falls. The falls froze over in 1848 due to subzero temperatures and a buildup of ice glaciers that blocked the flow of water. Since then, they have never frozen again, according to Niagara Parks data

Thick layers of ice and snow surround Niagara Falls. The famous waterfall is one of the most visited places in the world

The frozen spectacle came as an atmospheric river battered California with thunderstorms and hail yesterday.

However, the state was spared major damage because there were no tornadoes that had been forecast as a possibility.

The storms brought high winds and knocked out power to more than 11,000 customers, flooded roads, downed trees and shut down Santa Barbara’s airport for a day.

As of 5 p.m., 24-hour precipitation totals reached a maximum of about 3 to 4 inches in areas below Mount Shasta, one of California’s highest peaks at 4,180 feet.

The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a tornado warning for parts of Plumas County and Butte County in the northern part of the state, but as of Monday evening, hail and severe thunderstorms were the worst those areas received, meteorologist Jeffrey Wood said.

Niagra Falls frozen on the sides due to the cold weather. An estimated 22 million people visit Niagara Falls every year, on both the American and Canadian sides

Packs of ice were left clinging to rocks at Niagara Falls after temperatures reached -9 degrees Celsius on Sunday night

Frozen branches and icebergs above the water surface

An icy rock wall next to the flowing waterfall on Monday

Ice formations on the water surface at Niagara Falls

Frozen branches on the banks of Niagara Falls during sub-zero temperatures

Greater damage was still possible as heavy rain was expected to inundate much of Northern California through Tuesday and Southern California through Wednesday.

The mountains and foothills of Los Angeles County could see 1 to 2 inches of rain, according to the weather service.

Still, the effects appeared to be far less significant than those of another atmospheric river two weeks ago, which dumped up to a year’s worth of rainfall in some areas, knocked out power to nearly 1 million customers and killed nine people.

After historic rainfall ended the state’s severe drought a year ago, California is experiencing another wet year.

President Joe Biden declared a major disaster on Monday due to the severe storms that flooded the San Diego area in January, freeing up federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts.

Those rains killed three people and damaged more than 800 homes, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said.