Winter storm on weekend could have blizzard-like conditions

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 January 2024 at 3:36 pm

State of emergency declared for 15 counties including Orleans

Photo from Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul: The governor speaks during a news conference today highlighting an impending winter storm. Orleans County is in part of the area in red for the most severe storm impacts.

A winter storm this weekend is expected to bring blizzard-like conditions with high winds and snow.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for much of Western New York and part of northern New York. The counties in the state of emergency include Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego and Wyoming.

A high wind warning goes in to effect for Orleans County from 7 p.m. today until 4 a.m. Sunday. There will be southeast winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts to 50 mph tonight, and then becoming southwest 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph on Saturday and Saturday night, the National Weather Service said.

A winter storm warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m. Sunday, with 5 to 10 inches of snow expected in Orleans and Niagara counties.

“Blizzard conditions will be possible at times, especially late Saturday night and Sunday morning,” the Weather Service said.

There is a travel Ban for empty and tandem trucks/trailers on the Thruway and some other state road beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The state roads include Buffalo Skyway (NY 5), U.S. 219, NY 400, I-190 (north of the North Grand Island Bridge), I-290, I-990, Kensington Expressway (NY 33) and I-86 in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus County.