State of emergency declared in Western New York as lake effect snowstorm hits hard

More than two feet of snow blanketed parts of western New York and Pennsylvania on Saturday, as a lake-effect snowstorm disrupted post-Thanksgiving travel and threatened to bring up to five feet of snow to some areas. (NYT News Service photo)

Governor Kathy Hochul has implemented a state of emergency across multiple Western New York counties in response to significant lake effect snow conditions.
The emergency declaration encompasses six counties in Western New York:
Allegany
Cattaraugus
Chautauqua
Erie
Genessee
Wyoming

Lake effect snow is expected throughout the weekend across portions of WNY and as of 3 pm ET on Friday, November 29. Few hours back, the governor updated that the NYS Thruway has reopened I-90 to passenger traffic westbound from exit 57 to the Pennsylvania state line and the commercial vehicle ban is still in effect from exit 46 to the Pennsylvania state line in both directions.
” If you’re traveling: Use caution and don’t crowd the plow,” she added.

Responding to a query over the impact of snow in New York, Governor Hochul said, “Well, this is something that we’re very accustomed to — these lake effect snows. I’m a Western New Yorker myself, so it’s all about taking steps to be ready for the worst. We are expecting to see some heavy snowfall over the next couple of days – could lead to some significant accumulation in Western New York, as well as, even the city of Buffalo could be 4 to 6 inches. Chautauqua and Southern Erie, three to four feet.”
” And in the North Country could actually be up to six feet in Watertown. So anticipating that I’ve already declared a State of Emergency for Allegany, Erie Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Herkimer, Lewiston, and Jefferson Counties, and St. Lawrence Counties. This gives us the ability to assist more with local snow plowing and removal of any debris or helping with the utility lines. We’re very much involved with our local communities. But again, this is a very serious storm. People have gotten a little complacent because the fall and the winter thus far have been pretty mild. But I want everyone to take this seriously,” she added.
Yesterday, on Saturday (Indian time) the governor informed that all the commercial vehicles were banned on the Thruway from Exit 46 to the PA Line in both directions. The thruway remains closed to all traffic at Exit 57 Westbound. Anyone in the impacted areas should monitor forecasts and avoid unnecessary travel. And also updated that the state agencies and over 100 National Guard members are on the ground to support the storm operation.