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State of Emergency Declared in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, and Wyoming Counties
Strong Winds, Freezing Temperatures and Lake Effect Snow Likely to Cause Power Outages and Potentially Life-Threatening Conditions Starting Saturday
Whiteout Conditions Possible Saturday and Sunday with Difficult to Near-Impossible Travel Conditions
Travel Ban for Empty and Tandem Trucks/Trailers to Begin Saturday Morning at 9 a.m. on Thruway and Other State Roads in Western New York
Governor Deploys 100 Members of the New York National Guard to Western New York to Support Emergency Response Operations
New Yorkers Encouraged to Enjoy Buffalo Bills’ Game from Home; Those Planning to Attend Should Pay Close Attention to Weather and Travel Updates
New Yorkers Urged to Prepare for Potential Power Outages and Other Severe Winter Weather Impacts
New Yorkers Can Subscribe for Emergency Alerts Here
Traducción al español
Governor Kathy Hochul today declared a State of Emergency ahead of potentially dangerous and life-threatening blizzard-like conditions forecasted to impact communities along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Areas adjacent to both lakes are forecast to be impacted by strong winds with gusts up to 70 mph that will likely cause power outages, freezing cold wind chills, and lake effect snow with a foot or more possible in some areas. Blizzard-like, whiteout conditions are possible, especially Saturday night and much of Sunday, and wind chills are forecast to dip into the single digits on Saturday night and remain there through mid-week. Lake effect snow is expected for both Lakes Erie and Ontario starting Saturday afternoon and continuing through Monday morning, with areas in Western NY and the Watertown area receiving up to a foot of snow. Travel in these areas will be difficult to impossible at times, and New Yorkers are urged to pay close attention to the weather and make plans accordingly to stay safe, especially those planning to attend Sunday’s Buffalo Bills’ game. New Yorkers are being encouraged to enjoy the game from home, however if they are planning to attend the game, they should travel with extreme caution and pay very close attention to weather and travel updates throughout the weekend.
“In anticipation of the upcoming storm, I have declared a State of Emergency for Western New York, and my administration and I are monitoring the forecast as well to see whether that will be necessary for the North Country,” Governor Hochul said. “During this time, it is important to check in on vulnerable friends and family, and do whatever you can to stay safe and warm.”
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
Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 13, the New York State Department of Transportation and New York State Thruway Authority will be issuing a ban on empty trucks/trailers and all tandem trucks on the following routes:
Thruway:
NYSDOT:
Precipitation is expected to begin late this afternoon with areas in New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson seeing rain, while areas to the north and west should see a period of wet snow or snow/sleet mix. Western New York and valley areas in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Capital regions should see snow accumulations before turning to rain. Elevations above 1500 feet are forecast to receive heavy, wet snow tonight with snowfall rates up to one inch per hour at times and wind gusts up to 50 mph, which could lead to downed trees and branches and result in power outages.
In addition, damaging winds with gusts up to 65 mph are expected across Western New York into the Tug Hill as well as parts of the Mid-Hudson tonight into Saturday. Winds will be strong across in the state with gusts reaching up to 55 mph in places, which will likely result in downed tree and branches, especially where trees are weakened from recent storms. Western New York will be windy through the day Saturday into Saturday night with gusts up to 70 mph in Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, and Monroe counties, which will likely result in more widespread power outages.
A Winter Storm Watch for heavy lake effect snow has been issued by NWS Buffalo from Saturday afternoon through Monday morning for areas east of Lakes Erie and Ontario, including parts of Western NY and the North Country. A foot or more of snow possible in the most persistent lake effect bands and blowing and drifting of snow is likely due to winds gusts up to 70 mph on Saturday afternoon and evening.
In addition, for New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson regions, multiple flood and coastal flood alerts have already been issued for several locations through Saturday. The ground is saturated from recent storms and any additional rainfall may lead to renewed river flooding throughout the day today.
The National Weather Service has issued several additional watches, warnings, and advisories for this storm. For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert at alert.ny.gov, a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer.
I have declared a State of Emergency for Western New York, and my administration and I are monitoring the forecast as well to see whether that will be necessary for the North Country.”
Agency Activities
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The Division is actively monitoring the weather forecast and coordinating the State’s response to the weather event. Office of Emergency Management staff are in contact with local counterparts and are prepared to facilitate requests for assistance. The Division is preparing to open the State’s Emergency Operations Center this weekend if the conditions warrant, and the Division is prepared to deploy emergency response assets and shelter supplies from the State’s stockpiles.
Division of Military and Naval Affairs
The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs is mobilizing 100 Soldiers and Airmen with 25 vehicles from the New York National Guard to provide general support to Western New York.
New York State Department of Transportation
The State Department of Transportation is prepared to respond with more than 3,700 operators and supervisors available statewide. Staff can be configured into any type of response crews that are needed (flood response, chipper, load & haul, sewer jet, cut & toss, traffic signal, etc.). All residencies in impacted locations will remain staffed for 24/7 operations with operators, supervisors, and mechanics throughout the duration of the event and priority cleanup operations.
In addition to existing resources, the Department plans to deploy 54 additional operators, ten supervisors and five equipment trainers to Western New York, along with 25 large snowplows, three large snowblowers and a grader.
Statewide assets are as follows:
For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit 511ny.org or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source.
Thruway Authority
The Thruway Authority is ready to respond to the lake effect winter storm in Western New York with more than 700 operators and supervisors available statewide. The Authority is shifting additional staff and snow fighting equipment from the Syracuse, Albany and New York Divisions to support snow and ice operations in Western New York throughout the weekend. Staff is currently monitoring the storm track and additional operators and equipment are on standby and will be deployed if conditions warrant.
Statewide equipment numbers and resources are listed below:
Variable Message Signs and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter weather conditions on the Thruway.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras, and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails and follow @ThruwayTraffic on X for the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.
Department of Public Service
Electric utility companies regulated by the Department of Public Service will have approximately 11,000 workers available statewide to engage in response, repair and restoration efforts for this weekend’s winter weather event. This includes the following additional external contract workers, the majority of which are already in State having worked the Tuesday/Wednesday winter weather event and retained in preparation for this weekend’s storm:
The utilities’ emergency response plans remain activated and will be reactivating their incident command structures to track response, damage assessment, repair and restoration efforts throughout the event. DPS staff will track utilities’ work throughout the event and ensure utility companies shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact. If your service is interrupted, visit the DPS Utility Service Interruptions website for tips.
New York State Police
State Police are monitoring weather conditions and are prepared to deploy additional Troopers as needed. All State Police four-wheel drive and specialized vehicles, including snowmobiles and utility terrain vehicles, are staged and ready for immediate response, and all emergency power and communications equipment has been tested.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Emergency Management staff, Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, and regional staff remain on alert and continue to monitor the developing situation and weather forecasts. DEC is coordinating resource deployment with agency partners and all available assets to targeted areas in preparation for potential impacts due to rain, snow, and high winds, including swift water rescue teams and sawyers.
On Long Island, DEC is working to fully document coastal erosion and the extensive damage wrought to coastal resiliency projects—including dunes—by the previous storm, as well as monitor the potential impacts of this weekend’s anticipated high water, wave action, and severe weather.
DEC reminds those responsible for the removal and disposal of snow to follow best management practices to help prevent flooding and reduce the potential for pollutants like salt, sand, oils, trash, and other debris in snow from affecting water quality. Disposal of snow in local creeks and streams can create ice dams which may cause flooding in nearby areas. Public and private snow removal operators should be aware of these safety issues during and after winter storms. Additional information is available at extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/togs5111new.pdf.
With warmer temperatures expected through Saturday, DEC reminds any outdoor enthusiasts to be mindful of conditions when hiking and to use caution when venturing onto ice. Always check ice thickness before traveling across it. A minimum of three to four inches of solid ice is the general rule for safety.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and closely monitoring weather conditions and impacts. Response equipment is being fueled, tested, and prepared for storm response use.
State Parks has sawyer crews in Western New York and the North Country on standby for deployment for potential road clearing operations. State Parks staff are placing and repositioning sandbags around buildings at oceanfront State Parks throughout the Long Island. Additionally, staff placed sand at Gilgo State Park to fortify the entrance and exit roads and prevent flooding of the Ocean Parkway. Once high-water levels from Tuesday’s storm recede, State Parks staff will fortify a protective sand berm from the East Bathhouse to the West Bathhouse through the Central Mall, at Jones Beach State Park.
Park visitors should check parks.ny.gov or call their local park office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings, and closings.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Based on the current weather forecast, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will implement a ban on empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on all bridges beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Friday through 6:00 a.m. Saturday. Pedestrian walkways at the Cross Bay and Marine Parkway Bridges will be closed during this time. Pedestrian walkways at the Robert F. Kennedy and Henry Hudson bridges will remain open weather permitting. Officials are monitoring conditions and will strategically pre-position personnel and equipment to be able to respond to weather conditions as necessary.
New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad crews will have equipment on hand to be able to respond quickly as conditions warrant – chainsaws for clearing downed trees, pumps in the event of flooded areas, identifying locations and availability of supplies for replacing damaged utility poles and crossing gates. Diesel locomotives will also be pre-positioned to minimize any potential service impacts. For the latest updates on service across the MTA transportation network, check out the MTA website and our various apps — MyMTA and Train Time — plus, our social media channels.
Port Authority
The Port Authority monitors weather conditions across all its facilities. In the event of severe weather conditions, the agency issues regular travel alerts and updates as needed. For the latest information about Port Authority facilities, please check social media, sign up for PA alerts or download one of the PA mobile apps, including RidePATH, which provides real-time updates and alerts for PATH service.
Safety Tips
Winter Weather
Traveling in Winter Weather
Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:
Power Outages
Planning
What to Do If the Power Goes Out
To Report an Electric Outage, Call:
Heating Safety
For more winter safety tips, visit dhses.ny.gov/safety. For all non-emergency service needs in New York State before, during or after a storm, call 211 or visit 211nys.org.
Flooding
Planning
Travel Safety
About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, follow @NYSDHSES on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter) or visit dhses.ny.gov.
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