January 13, 2024
Governor Kathy Hochul has 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. The State of Emergency applies to the following counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Wyoming.
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.”
