Governor Hochul and Local Authorities Announce Full Travel Ban in Erie County Beginning 9 P.m. Saturday as Potentially Life-threatening Blizzard Conditions Impact Western New York

 

Full Travel Ban in Effect for Passenger Vehicles in Erie Country Beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday and Reassessed at 6 a.m. Sunday, Allowing Plows to Clear Roads Safely Overnight

Full Travel Ban for Commercial Vehicles on All State, County and Local Roads in Erie County and on the New York State Thruway Between Exit 46 and the Pennsylvania State Line Also Beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday Through The Duration Of The Storm

NFL Will Postpone Bills-Steelers Playoff Game to Monday at 4:30 p.m. After Weather Consultation with State Officials

Lake-Effect Weather Systems to Create Impossible and Dangerous Travel with Whiteout Conditions

Potentially Life-Threatening Conditions Including Damaging Winds, Freezing Temperatures and Lake Effect Snow

State of Emergency in Effect for Multiple Counties; New York National Guard Deployed to Western New York for Emergency Response Support

Search and Rescue Personnel Deployed to Western NY

New Yorkers Urged to Prepare for Potential Power Outages and Other Severe Winter Weather Impacts

New Yorkers Can Subscribe for Emergency Alerts Here

Governor Kathy Hochul and local authorities today announced that a full travel ban for passenger vehicles will be in effect for all of Erie County beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday to give plow crews time and space to clear roads during the overnight hours. This ban will be reassessed at 6 a.m. on Sunday. Additionally, all commercial traffic will be banned on all State, County and local roads in Erie County and on the New York State Thruway between Exit 46 and the Pennsylvania State Line beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday as well. This ban will remain in effect indefinitely.

"Forecasts predict the most dangerous winter storm conditions since the Christmas Blizzard of 2022," Governor Hochul said. "Working closely with County and City leaders, we are instituting a 9:00 p.m. travel ban that takes effect tonight to keep motorists safe."

New Yorkers in Western New York are being urged to stay home throughout the duration of the storm. Travel in impacted areas will be impossible and dangerous at times throughout the weekend due to life-threatening blizzard-like conditions. After consulting with State officials, the NFL has decided to postpone the Bills-Steelers playoff game until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 15. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert at https://alert.ny.gov, a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer.

A widespread 1-2 feet of heavy lake effect snow is forecast to impact areas near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, including the cities of Buffalo and Watertown, with isolated, higher amounts possible and snowfall rates reaching three inches per hour at times starting Saturday night and continuing through Sunday morning. Winds will be strong in parts of Western NY with gusts up to 65 mph Saturday night and sustained winds of up to 40 mph on all day Sunday, while areas near Lake Ontario, including Jefferson, Lewis, and Oswego counties, will see winds gusting as high as 50 mph through Monday. Potentially life-threatening conditions are expected including damaging winds, heavy lake effect snow, and frigid wind chills in the single digits starting Saturday night and continuing through to the middle of the week. For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website at https://alerts.weather.gov.

On Friday, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency to warn and prepare New Yorkers for potentially dangerous and life-threatening weather forecasted to impact communities along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario with blizzard-like conditions. The State of Emergency applies to the following counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Wyoming.

Travel Ban for Empty Trucks/Trailers and All Tandem Trucks

The current ban on all empty trucks/trailers and all tandem trucks remains in effect on the following routes:

Thruway:

• I-90 Exit 46 – State of Pennsylvania line
• I-190 (South of the North Grand Island Bridge)

NYSDOT:

• Buffalo Skyway (NY 5)
• U.S. 219
• NY 400
• I-190 (North of the North Grand Island Bridge)
• I-290
• I-990
• Kensington Expressway (NY 33)
• I-86 in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties

Warming Shelters

At 5 p.m. today, New York State will open and will operate warming shelters with cots, pillows, and blankets, as well as mental health counselors at each site for assistance with using facilities. NY National Guard and the New York State Incident Management Team will operate the site:

• Erie Community College (South Campus), 121 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
• Windom Elementary School, 3870 Sheldon Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127
• Orchard Park Middle School, 60 South Lincoln Ave, Orchard Park, NY 14127

The City of Buffalo will open shelters in the city this afternoon – more information here. New York State will provide water and MREs for both state and city warming shelters.

Search and Rescue

New York has surged additional search and rescue resources to Western New York in response to this storm including:

• 33 State-tracked vehicles
• 50 4x4s
• 25 military vehicles

Additional resources are staged outside the storm area ready to deploy if needed, and the state is coordinating with the County to engage the snowmobile clubs for additional assistance as well.