A state of emergency has been declared across multiple regions in New York, specifically affecting areas in Western New York, the Finger Lakes, Central New York, and the North Country.
This precautionary measure comes in light of forecasts predicting significant lake effect snowfall.
Snow Accumulation Forecasts
Weather reports indicate that regions to the east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario could see staggering snow accumulations reaching two to three feet.
These conditions will be compounded by strong wind gusts, peaking between 30 and 45 miles per hour, expected to continue through Saturday.
Impact on Transportation and Safety
This recent declaration follows another emergency that was instituted due to the heavy snowfall impacting Buffalo and the Great Lakes region, where some spots reported an impressive five feet of snow accumulation.
The National Weather Service has issued warnings regarding visibility issues in certain areas affected by lake effect snow bands, predicting driving conditions that could border on impossible due to hazardous roadways.
Winds and Potential Hazards
Elsewhere, in the eastern parts of the state—including the Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island—winds are reaching gusts over 50 miles per hour.
Officials are particularly wary of potential phenomena like power outages and localized flash flooding in these regions, which could occur in response to the extreme weather.
Source: Insurancejournal.com
