New York State — Governor Kathy Hochul has directed state agencies to prepare for a severe winter storm expected to bring dangerously cold temperatures and lake effect snow across New York starting Sunday.
Related: Schenectady County declares Code Blue as temperatures drop below freezing
The storm system is forecast to impact the Mid-Hudson, New York City, and Long Island regions with snow and freezing temperatures from the night of January 19 into the morning of January 20.
Areas east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are expected to experience lake effect snow from Sunday night through Wednesday.
Governor Hochul said,
As extreme cold temperatures and lake effect snow move into our state over the coming days, I’ve directed our state agencies to mobilize their resources as we prepare to respond to this weather system. These conditions pose an extraordinary risk to anyone who is exposed to the elements or is unable to adequately heat their home, and I encourage New Yorkers to take precautions to keep themselves and their families safe.
The storm could bring ‘feels-like temperatures’ as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit across much of the state on January 20, 21, 22 nights.
New Yorkers are advised to monitor local weather conditions and prepare for the winter weather.
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is in contact with local counterparts and ready to deploy emergency response assets.
The Department of Transportation has 3,671 supervisors and operators available statewide, with equipment such as plow trucks and snow blowers ready for deployment.
The Thruway Authority has 691 operators and supervisors prepared to respond, with over 113,000 tons of salt on hand.
All Thruway plow trucks are equipped with green hazard lights to enhance visibility during operations.
Utilities across the state have about 5,500 workers available for damage assessment and repair efforts.
The State Police will deploy extra patrols as needed, and the Department of Environmental Conservation is prepared to coordinate resource deployment.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts at alert.ny.gov and check the National Weather Service website for weather alerts. Motorists should call 511 or visit 511ny.org for real-time travel information.
Safety tips include:
- Dressing in layers
- Keeping pets indoors
- Avoiding unnecessary travel
For more information on safety guidelines and updates, click here
