Snow continues to accumulate in WNY, including in South Buffalo

BUFFALO, NY – Acting Mayor Christopher Scanlon declared a state of emergency for the City of Buffalo on Thursday evening.

The declaration comes as snow continues to accumulate in South Buffalo, where a travel advisory points from William Street south to the city limits.

RELATED: Winter travel bans and advisories in WNY

“Our priority is the safety and well-being of all residents,” Scanlon said in a statement Thursday around 9 p.m. “The amount of snowfall and strong winds we are experiencing has created dangerous conditions, particularly in South Buffalo.

“I urge everyone to stay at home if possible and allow our teams to work to clear the roads and ensure access for emergency response if necessary.”

Of course, people are being asked to stay at home for now and avoid unnecessary travel as emergency services try to clear the roads and make them passable.

On Thursday around 3 p.m., Managing Director Mark Poloncarz declared a nationwide state of emergency.

“If people are stuck in one place right now because of a driving ban, we just ask them to wait so the roads can be cleared and we can get you back on the road safely,” Poloncarz said.

Buffalo residents are encouraged by city government to sign up for alerts for weather updates, closures and emergencies by texting their zip code to 38276.