LIVE: Severe winter weather updates
What you need to know:
- Winter Storm Warning: The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of Western New York, from 7 a.m Sunday through 7 p.m. Monday.
- State of emergency: Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a statewide state of emergency starting Friday.
- Snowfall: Western New York is forecasted to receive between 10 to 18 inches of snow starting Sunday morning and lasting through Monday.
- Extreme cold: Ahead of the snow, "feels-like" temperatures are expected to drop into the negatives Friday and Saturday nights, as cold as -25 F in some parts of Western New York.
- Travel safety: Residents are urged to avoid travel during the storm. If travel is necessary, Hochul advises carrying a survival kit with blankets, water and snacks.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a State of Emergency for New York as the state prepares for a combination of life-threatening cold and a significant winter storm. Buffalo and the surrounding areas are expected to see "feels-like" temperatures drop well below zero starting Friday night, followed by 10 to 18 inches of snow accumulation between Sunday morning and Monday.
Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Williamsville Schools close for Monday
Three public school districts confirmed Sunday afternoon their plans to close for Monday, January 26 due to weather.
As of 6 p.m. Sunday evening the Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Williamsville public school districts reported closures.
Families of other school districts are encouraged to check their respective districts' social media platforms or await email or text instructions from their school officials under their established school closing system.
Also announcing its closure Sunday for Monday was U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Buffalo. Hearings will be held telephonically only, according to a court contact confirming the building's closure.
Several hours of snowfall
A steady stream of snowflakes have been coming down across Western New York. The storm system is bringing a wall of snow that stretches several states, as far away as Arkansas and parts of Texas. A winter storm warning remains in effect for the region until 7 p.m. Monday. Accumulation predictions are 12.5 inches for the city of Buffalo, 13.4 inches for Lockport and 15.5 inches for Olean.
Mayor Ryan: "We're ready to go, whatever Mother Nature throws at us."
Buffalo mayor Sean Ryan spoke Friday afternoon about preparations for Sunday’s expected snowfall.
“As you know, this is a different storm. It's not necessarily lake effect. This is a storm that's coming across the whole United States. New York City is hunkering down because they think they're going to get 10 to 12 inches. We're seeing different projections, but what we try to do is to be ready,” he said.
Ryan stated that whether a storm arrives quickly or is a system known to be coming days in advance, the city’s strategy doesn’t change. He looked back upon the winter storm that passed during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday just a few days prior, calling it a dry run.
“We've revamped the Department of Public Works. We have had more trucks on the road than have been on the road at any time in the last few years,” the mayor added. “We have private contractors ready to go, and we're also working on relationships and contracts with Erie County in the Town of Tonawanda to help us plow streets that are border streets. We keep in touch with the state in case we need their assistance. So, we're ready to go whatever Mother Nature throws at us.”
The Ryan administration is less than a month in office, but it has already had to face a significant budget deficit predating its start. During his appearance at an event Friday afternoon, Ryan was asked by news media whether the snow clearing efforts will result in a large sum of overtime pay.
The mayor suggests the city can afford it.
“For the last few storms, we were able to get more equipment on the road than ever. We didn't spend one more dollar,” Ryan answered. “We changed schedules around. We moved people from different shifts. So far, we haven't had any overtime money with getting more plows out than any time in living memory. We did that by just bringing a different strategic approach to scheduling. We got more people on the street, more equipment on the street. But so far, it hasn't cost one dollar to the taxpayers.”
Cold-related health issues can be avoided
Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein is offering some common sense tips and ideas to stay safe in the extreme cold and intense snow:
Dress in layers: Wear a good hat, cover your ears. Make sure as much as possible, the skin on your face and your neck is protected. Wear a face covering or a scarf. Dress in multiple layers underneath a good warm parka or jacket. A good place to start is wearing a t-shirt that wicks moisture away from the skin. Layers will trap air, and air is a natural insulator.
Know the signs of frostbite: skin can initially turn red, then very pale or discolored mode. The skin can develop a waxy texture. You may feel pain or tingling, especially in fingers or toes. That's a sign that you need to stop what you're doing and go inside and warm up.
Know the signs of hypothermia: shivering uncontrollably, because your organs are not getting adequate blood supply Not just teeth chattering, but whole body shivering. There may be fatigue or slurred speech. This is a medical emergency. You have to bring that person inside, start to warm them up with blankets and call 911.
Also, warm up often and stay hydrated. Burstein says, respect the weather and pay attention.
Winter Storm Warning for all of Western New York
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of Western New York, from 7 a.m. Sunday until 7 a.m. Monday.
For Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, and northern Erie Counties, including the municipalities of Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Batavia and Medina, snowfall totals are expected to range between 10 and 15 inches.
For southern Erie County, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties, including the municipalities of Springville, Orchard Park, Dunkirk, Warsaw, Jamestown and Olean, totals could range between 12 to 18 inches.