BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a State of Emergency ahead of Sunday's winter storm forecast for Western New York.
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties from 1 p.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Monday. Lake effect snow east and then northeast of the lake could produce several inches of snow.
Hochul said she has activated 100 members of the New York National Guard to be in place in Western New York this weekend to assist with the snow event.
Road crews will be out to pre-treat the roads and plows will work to keep roads clear as the snow falls.
Hochul says there are 11,000 utility crew members on standby to help deal with any power outages that might occur from wind event forecasted for Saturday into Sunday.
A High Wind Warning has been issued for all of Western New York from this evening through late Saturday night. The strong area of low pressure will pass by to our west, which will help generate strong winds Friday night into especially Saturday and Saturday night. Wind gusts could gust 55 to 65 mph during the day Saturday, especially for the lake plains including Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and near the Lake Erie shoreline.
The governor also announced there will be a ban on tandem trucks on the New York State Thruway from Rochester to the PA line, Buffalo Skyway, Route 219, Route 400, I-190 north of the north Grand Island Bridge, I-290, I-990, Route 33 Kensington Expressway and I-86 in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Hochul says her team is in contact with local officials, as well as the Buffalo Bills, to ensure the safety of fans who attend the game on Sunday in Orchard Park.