By Mark Scott and Mark Wozniak
Buffalo, NY – High winds continued across the region Monday morning. A wind chill advisory continues through Tuesday morning, with temperatures in the single digits and wind chills as low as minus 25.
Most Western New York school districts canceled classes Monday because of the dangerous wind chills.
Travel has been a problem due to blowing and drifting snow in areas south of Buffalo. That area was pummeled by lake effect snow over the weekend. A National Weather Service spotter in Orchard Park reported 16 inches of snow. Two feet is on the ground in the Town of Boston. And one spotter in East Aurora reports a snow accumulation of more than three feet.
The mainline Thruway reopened early Monday morning between Hamburg and Dunkirk.
Amtrak has suspended passenger train service in upstate New York west of Albany through today due to severe cold and heavy snow. Amtrak plans to arrange bus transportation for Empire Service passengers to and from Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Toronto and other stops to Albany. The Lake Shore Limited train has also been cancelled between Chicago and Albany.
A lake effect snow warning continues for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties through 6pm Tuesday. Additional accumulations of up to six inches are expected. But strong winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour will cause blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibility for drivers.