Hamburg, New York: These beachfront homes have transformed into stunning ice palaces

Don't call it a winter wonderland.

The waterfront by Hoover Beach, in Hamburg, New York, has transformed into a magical vision. Houses are sheathed in a thick layer of ice, with icicles layering down from door frames, awnings and rooftops.

Hamburg, about 13 miles from Buffalo and bordering Lake Erie, has been ravaged by intense gale force winds for two days. Coupled with 15-foot waves from the nearby lake, the winds are so severe that it's created a 1- to 3-inch layer of ice on some homes.

But the picture-perfect view comes with some caveats for local homeowners. Some residents had to break into their own homes.

"I actually had to go out a secondary door and then chisel my way back into the house by breaking the ice," Ed Mis, a resident whose home was iced out, told WGRZ-TV.

The homes have also become a bit of a tourist trap - one that police are requesting visitors to stay away from for their safety.

Hamburg police issued a statement Sunday requesting that the public may also face trespassing charges if they encroach private property.

"Not only is the ice extremely unsafe and unstable, the majority is in areas which are private property," they said in their notice.

Damage may also be a potential issue. As of Tuesday, Hamburg is facing rainy conditions. When combined with the weight of the ice already on the homes, per the Today Show, the sheer mass of rain may cause ice-heavy homes to collapse.