A state of emergency was declared in New York as a lake-effect snowstorm swept across the Great Lakes

BUFFALO, NY – The third major lake-effect snowstorm in three weeks is inundating Great Lakes communities with strong winds and heavy snow, causing dangerous travel conditions and a state of emergency in parts of New York state.

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul gave up

Additionally, a tandem and empty driving ban was implemented in both directions on the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) from Exit 53 West to the Pennsylvania state line, as well as portions of Route 5, US 219, NY Route 400 and Interstate 86.

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“Our first responders and emergency teams are on site and ready to deal with this storm,” Hochul said in a post on X. “I urge New Yorkers to take precautions to stay safe.”

Snow has fallen fast and heavily in parts of Pennsylvania and New York, and several communities already have more than a foot of snow.

About 19 inches fell in the Orchard Park, New York area, and other communities such as Hamburg and Eden also received more than a foot of snow.

There are many more on the way.

There were also reports of rare thunderstorms in the Watertown, New York area early Thursday morning. Thunderstorm is a rare weather phenomenon in which thunder and flash are observed even though precipitation occurs in the frozen variety.

Similar ThunderstormThunderstorms require a significant amount of atmospheric Instability and in areas where the phenomenon occurs, Snowfall rates can be exceptionally difficult.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said he has been informed that a local state of emergency has also been declared in cities in Western New York, including Brant and Evans.

Travel bans were imposed due to poor visibility.

Poloncarz said an Erie County Department of Public Works plow truck went off the road on Route 20 in the Evans and Hamburg areas. This driver was not injured.

This photo shows a snow plow that went off the road in the Hamburg/Evans area of ​​New York on Thursday, December 12, 2024.

(Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz/Facebook / FOX Weather)

Travel impacts were also reported in parts of Pennsylvania, including some commercial travel bans on I-86 between I-90 and the New York state line, and along the entire length of I-90 from the Ohio state line to the New York state line State Line York state line.

Speed ​​limits also apply on portions of Interstates 80 and 81.

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videos recorded by the EriePennsylvania, area show the heavy snow that began falling Wednesday evening.

FOX weather correspondent Brandy Campbell was in Erie and shared a time-lapse video showing streaks of lake-effect snow impacting the region.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said his state was also preparing for the storm’s impact. In a post on

“They will be ready to help clear the roads and make sure people get where they need to go,” he said. “Stay safe out there.”

The National Weather Service office in buffalo The heavy lake snowfall would bring several feet of snow east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario by Friday morning, and strong winds could lead to near whiteout conditions.

The, Meteorologists warnedwould have “significant impacts on travel and society where the heaviest snowfall is expected.”

This graphic shows the forecast snow amount in the Great Lakes region through Friday, December 13, 2024.

(FOX Weather)

The FOX Forecast Center called for cold air Canada The snow is expected to move across the still-warm Great Lakes, contributing to more snowfall in communities on the lakes’ eastern and southern shores through Friday.

The combination of gusty Winds And Blowing snow is expected to be too closeBlizzard Conditions, especially on Thursday when winds peak at 25-45 mph.