BUFFALO, N.Y. – A record lake-effect snowstorm continues to blanket towns along the eastern shores of the Great Lakes in paralyzing amounts of snow, causing widespread road closures and travel bans.
As of Sunday, snowfall totals exceeded 3 feet in the lee of Lake Erie in Erie County in northwestern Pennsylvania and parts of western New York south of Buffalo, and an additional 1 to 2 feet in the lee of Lake Ontario in northern New York. There is a possibility of snow. The storm begins to subside.
With snowfall ranging from 1 to 4 inches per hour, efforts to keep roads clear under the heaviest bands resulted in over-accumulation.
Interstate 90 is closed in both directions. across Erie County, Pennsylvaniawith more than 43 inches reported in the Northeast as of Sunday morning, and more than 3 feet in other nearby towns.
The closure of Interstate 90 also extended to New York state. Gov. Kathy Hochul said late Saturday afternoon. The westbound lanes from Exit 57 toward the Pennsylvania state line have reopened to passenger traffic.
However, the ban on business travel from Exit 46 to the Pennsylvania border remains in effect.
Interstate 86 was also closed near Erie, Pennsylvania and by authorities in New York state. Travel ban imposed at DunkirkFredonia and pomfret.
“We have worked tirelessly to keep Route 5 open in the Dunkirk area, but more than 100 vehicles will need to be towed from Route 5 to allow snowplows to pass. there was.” Posted by New York State Department of Transportation officials on X. “This is why we ask you to stay off the roads if you don’t need to travel.”
FOX weather storm tracker Brandon Copic said even small vehicles were having trouble maneuvering through the snow and rescues were underway.
“Honestly, it’s just a mess here,” Copic said Saturday. “With the highways closed, trucks are going on roads they shouldn't be on, which only leads to more stranded cars. I spent 15 hours Friday night helping people… stranded. I did everything I could to help those who were in need.”
Copic flew his drone over Pennsylvania Route 5 near the New York state line around noon Saturday and discovered a huge traffic jam with dozens of vehicles stuck in the snow.
“Trucks jackknifed on the road are causing the traffic jams,” Copic said, estimating that most of the vehicles have been stuck there since Friday.
“I can almost 100% say that 95% of the vehicles in this lineup have been here for at least the last 18 hours,” he said Saturday afternoon.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for nearly a dozen counties in the state's upstate as her staff prepares for a prolonged event, while Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shaprio: activated the state's National Guard Assist stranded drivers and allow emergency vehicles to respond to calls.
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis declared a snow disaster. “Roads are dangerous and travel is strongly discouraged except in emergencies,” Davis' declaration reads.
