BUFFALO, N.Y. — On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for several counties in Western New York in preparation for the upcoming lake-effect snowfall.
The state of emergency applies to Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, and Wyoming counties, along with additional counties in the North Country.
Southern Erie (south of Route 20A), Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Wyoming counties are currently under a lake-effect snow warning. Starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Northern Erie County, including Buffalo, and Genesee County will also be under the warning. Both alerts will expire at 1 p.m. Friday.
A ban on tandem and empty tractor-trailers will be in effect starting at midnight Thursday and will remain in place until further notice on the New York State Thruway I-90, from Exit 53 West to the Pennsylvania state line in both directions. This ban also applies to Route 5 from NY 179 to I-190, US 219 from I-90 to I-86, Route 400 from I-90 to NY 16, and I-86 from US 219 to the Pennsylvania state line.
Buffalo is expected to receive about one to three inches of snow through Thursday, while southern Erie County, Dunkirk, and nearby areas could see two feet or more. Hochul mentioned that wind gusts of 30 to 45 miles per hour could lead to whiteout conditions.
Hochul urged New Yorkers to avoid unnecessary travel and to sign up for emergency alerts.
