Emergency Declared in WNY Counties as Heavy Snowfall Looms. Ahead of the impending lake-effect snowfall, Governor Kathy Hochul proclaimed a state of emergency for several Western New York counties on Wednesday.
In addition to other counties in the North Country, the counties of Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, and Wyoming are all under a state of emergency.
A lake-effect snow warning is in place for the counties of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Wyoming, and Southern Erie (south of Route 20A).
A lake-effect snow warning will also be in effect for Genesee County and Northern Erie County, which includes the city of Buffalo, beginning at 10 p.m. on Wednesday. Both alerts end on Friday at 1 p.m.
Beginning at midnight on Thursday and lasting until further notice, New York State Thruway I-90 from Exit 53 West to the Pennsylvania state line will be closed to tandem and empty tractor trailer traffic in both directions.
Additionally, US 219 from I-90 to I-86, Route 400 from I-90 to NY 16, Route 5 from NY 179 to I-190, and I-86 from US 219 to the Pennsylvania state line are also prohibited.
Through Thursday, Buffalo should receive one to three inches, while Dunkirk, southern Erie County, and the neighboring areas may receive two feet or more. Whiteout conditions might result from wind gusts of 30 to 45 miles per hour, Hochul stated in a press statement.
