WEATHER BULLETIN: New York Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a DISASTER EMERGENCY for 11 Western and Central New York counties, including Cattaraugus and Wyoming, which also extends to Allegany County, NY, and Livingston due to a winter storm which is expected to drop up to four feet of snow in the Buffalo area.
The declaration, which will be in effect for one month unless curtailed or extended, allows the governor to direct emergency resources to manage the weather event.
The main focus of the storm is the Buffalo and Watertown areas but significant snowfall and wind is expected to spread into others, with potential for shifting storm tracks.
The State of Emergency applies specifically to Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming, but also includes contiguous counties.
As we reported earlier today, snow is expected to continue through Sunday afternoon, with the State Thruway closing to commercial traffic from Rochester to the Pennsylvania State Line starting at 4PM today, with other closures possible.
Individuals, even outside the primary focus area, are urged to check weather forecasts before any travel and, if there are questions as to current or potential conditions, not to travel.
Information in regard to tracking resources is available in our earlier posts.
The emergency declaration is available at https://on.ny.gov/3hT2t0Z.
– – – – – – – – – –
Allegany Hope is a Weather-Ready Nation AmbassadorTM and provides slightly delayed weather alerts directly from the National Weather Service at Buffalo for its forecast area, which includes Allegany County, on our Facebook page, along with other weather-related and community information.
Such alerts should not be considered a substitute for a weather alert radio or a portable instant warning device. “Like” and “Share” this Page and applicable posts with family members and friends to help keep them informed.