Parts of NY are about to get pummeled by two separate storms.
Update 5:14pm: The National Weather Service recommends avoiding any unnecessary travel.
We are receiving lots of questions regarding travel conditions. In short, they are extremely poor within the lake effect bands. It might not be much where you are or where you're going, but that doesn't mean it won't be bad along the way. Avoid travel into the lake effect bands. pic.twitter.com/xRTAkaTmUo
— NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) November 29, 2024
Update 5:01pm: A State of Emergency has been declared by Governor Hochul for several Western New York counties.
With lake effect snow impacting communities along Lakes Ontario & Erie, I am declaring a State of Emergency in Allegany, Erie, Cattaraugaus, Chautauqua, Genessee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence, & Wyoming Counties, effective immediately.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) November 29, 2024
Update 4:59pm: The New York State Police have issued a travel advisory about a number of accidents that have closed the Thruway westbound at exit 59 near Dunkirk.
If you plan on traveling to Western New York this weekend, you might want to give it another thought. A lake effect storm that started Friday morning is expected to last through the weekend. 'Multiple feet' of snow is what some forecasters are predicting.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a Lake Effect Show Warning until Monday at 7pm for Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Southern Erie Counties. Between 3 and 4 feet are expected to impact the effected area.
Travel is expected to be disrupted as well. The New York State Police have issued a travel advisory that includes an 'empty and tandem' vehicle ban on certain roads starting at 3pm Friday.
Western New York isn't the only area bracing for severe weather. In Northern New York, the area of Watertown is expected to get blasted with several feet of snow. One area forecaster says over five feet could be on the ground by the end of the weekend.
As for the Capital Region, the storm will lose its punch as it heads our way likely only producing less than an inch of snow.