Frozen car

This frozen car got encased in ice after being left overnight next to Lake Erie near Buffalo, N.Y.

(ABC video still)

If you live in Upstate New York, let this be a lesson to never leave your car overnight next to a lake in the winter.

Justin Yelen admitted Monday that he's the owner of the "ice car" that went viral on social media. His car was frozen in a thick layer of ice after he left it parked next to Lake Erie near Buffalo on Sunday night.

How did it happen?

Freezing temperatures, high winds up to 47 miles per hour, and water from the lake combined to turn the sedan into an ice sculpture. More ice appeared on one side than the other, largely due to the direction of the wind.

Either way, an ice scraper won't help him much. The ground surrounding the car also appeared frozen solid, like a makeshift ice rink.

Why did the owner leave his car where it could get encased in ice?

Yelen, 24, told local ABC station WKBW that he left the car because he was having drinks with friends and didn't want to drive home. In the meantime, he admitted he'll need to get rides from his parents until the vehicle can be freed.

"I hope summer comes soon," he said, adding that there's probably damage to the car.

The National Weather Service warns more frozen cars could come as lake effect snow threatens the region over the next three days, with wind gusts up to 45 mph.