BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Lake Effect Snow storm is bringing heavy snow and high winds to the area, making visibility challenging in the most persistent snow bands.
Here are the latest updates for Thursday, January 18, 2024:
2:30 p.m.: Beginning at 8pm Thursday evening, the police department will block off streets that the city has targeted that are need of snow removal. Parking enforcement will do a "mini-tow" of vehicles parked on the street to a nearby street. The DPW will then plow the street, curb to curb and remove the snow. The vehicles will then be towed back to their street.
2:23 p.m.: Buffalo Skyway complex (NY Route 5) is now open.
2:02 p.m.: Buffalo Public Schools will be closed on Friday, January 19, as will some other districts in Erie County.
8:30 a.m.: Western New York Commercial Vehicle Ban has been lifted at 8:30 a.m. that was in effect for the New York State Thruway (I-90) from exit 46 (Rochester – Corning - I-390) to the Pennsylvania State Line and on the Niagara Thruway (I-190) between I-90 and the North Grand Island Bridge.
8:15 a.m.: Buffalo and Lackawanna City Courts will conduct inly emergency operations for the remainder of the day.
8:00 a.m.: All travel bans have been lifted as of 8 a.m., there is still a travel advisory for all of Erie County
The latest updates for Wednesday, January 17, 2024:
9:16 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced that "effective immediately, the City of Tonawanda has lifted its driving ban. All other driving bans will remain in effect overnight and will be re-assessed early tomorrow morning to ensure they can safely be lifted."
9:02 p.m. Cheektowaga town officials provided an update on its driving ban.
"The driving ban will remain in effect until at least 6am tomorrow. Elected officials are going to evaluate the road & weather conditions prior to 6am and decide if the ban will be lifted or remain in effect," the town said on social media.
For a complete list of travel bans and advisories that were put in place due to heavy snow, click here.
6:23 p.m. The Buffalo Police Department on Wednesday evening said the travel ban south of Broadway is expected to remain in place through the overnight hours. A travel advisory is in place for the rest of the city.
5:29 p.m. Wegmans recently released a statement, saying all Erie County stories would be closed by 7 p.m.
3:44 p.m. Tops Markets has made an announcement that they would close all of its Erie County stores at 4 p.m. Wednesday, due to the extreme weather conditions.
Tops Markets stores expect to reopen on Thursday at 6 a.m. depending on the weather in certain stores areas.
In a Facebook post they wrote, "Due to the extreme weather conditions, and for the safety of our associates and customers, Tops will be closing all of its Erie County (NY) Stores at 4 p.m. today."
2:17 p.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul, on social media, urged businesses to let employees out early so they could get home safely.
"Heavy snow is going to continue impacting Buffalo and the Western New York area throughout the afternoon and evening, making travel during rush hour dangerous," she said. "I’m encouraging employers to send staff home by 3pm so they can beat the worst of the snow and get home safely."
1:01 p.m.: Buffalo Public Schools announced they are cancelling classes for Thursday, January 18, 2024 due to the weather.
12:46 p.m.: Buffalo Sabres rescheduled their Wednesday night game against the Blackhawks to tomorrow, Thursday, January 18 at 7 p.m.
12:25 p.m.: Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown reminds people that there is a window of time until 3:00 p.m. to get what is necessary otherwise, he encourages people to stay off the roads. He also said that it is unknown when the bans in place will be lifted but, they are not expected to expand.
12:20 p.m.: Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo advises people to think of their health and lower their limits by not doing something they normally wouldn't. This is to be sure that the safety of the community stays in place and no one at risk is overdoing it.
12:15 p.m.: Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia says in a press conference "do not put your life at risk with unnecessary driving in the bans."
11:45 a.m.: Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says three people have died during in connection with the storm this past weekend. A 64-year-old male died while shoveling, a 41-year-old was killed in a hit and run accident and a 57-year-old woman died while outside snowblowing. Poloncarz says they are storm-related.
Erie County is asking all businesses in Erie County to close early, around 4pm, as the lake effect snow band travels back south, so they can get home before the band strengthens.
10:30 a.m.: Commercial traffic has been banned on Rte. 400, I-290, and I-990.
9:00 a.m.: Travel ban for South Buffalo (encompassing all area south of Broadway).
8:15 a.m.: City of Buffalo - south of Broadway is under a travel ban
7:30 a.m.: There is a travel ban effective in Lackawanna, City Hall is also closed today.
7:15 a.m.: The Skyway in Buffalo is closed due to poor weather conditions.
6:30 a.m.: City of Buffalo Public Works Commissioner Nate Marton says the lake effect snow has greatly impacted the southern portion of the city. He says they have crews in place. They are urging no unnecessary travel so crews can clear the snow. They are also asking residents to follow parking rules so plows can get down streets.
6:00 a.m.: The New York State Thruway Authority has announced a Commercial Truck Ban on the New York State Thruway System from Exit 46 (Rochester – Corning - I-390) to the Pennsylvania State Line, and I-190 (Both Directions) until further notice.
5:35 a.m.: Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says City Hall will be closed today (Wednesday_
5:28 a.m.: Hamburg Police have issued a driving ban in the towns and villages of Hamburg and Blasdell until further notice.
3:16 a.m.: Orchard Park Police have issued a travel ban until further notice.
2:43 a.m.: Route 219 is closed in both directions from Route 391 (Boston State Road) to the I-90 in West Seneca.
TRACK: Storm Team 2 Doppler Radar
A Lake Effect Snow Warning continues for Erie, Genesee, and Wyoming counties until 7 PM Thursday. In this area 1 to 3 feet of snow is possible under the heaviest lake band, mainly for central Erie County and into parts of northern Erie County. Isolated spots of possibly 4 feet from this lake effect snow storm. 6 to 10 inches on the edges of the lake effect snow band, and lower amounts from there.
Snow totals so far show Lackawanna has already received 30.8 inches from this latest round of lake effect snow that started late yesterday (Tuesday). West Seneca is at 28 inches, Lancaster 28 inches, Buffalo 22.5 inches, Hamburg 21.2 inches.
