New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned residents concerning the “epic, statewide hazard” of winter climate this weekend.
“I referred to as it a kitchen sink storm as a result of it’s throwing every part at us however the kitchen sink,” Hochul mentioned at a press convention Friday afternoon. “We have had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and every part that mom nature may wallop at us this weekend.”
Excessive winds and rain have already been reported throughout the state, and now officers are bracing for heavy snow and record-setting wind speeds, the state’s transportation commissioner mentioned on the press convention.
There have been greater than 100,000 energy outages throughout the state, with about 27,000 in Erie County and 15,000 in Monroe County, Hochul mentioned.
“In the event you do lose energy, it’s going to be dangerously chilly,” mentioned Jackie Bray, the state’s homeland safety and emergency providers commissioner. Bray instructed residents coping with outages to hunt out warming shelters supplied by some counties.
“Please do not assume which you could climate this chilly in a single day with out warmth,” she mentioned. “You could not be capable to.”
Impacts by area: “We’re seeing extremely harmful, hazardous, life-threatening excessive winds, blinding snowstorms, in real-time hitting Western New York,” Hochul mentioned, explaining that the area has been hit by each the nationwide storm and a lake-effect storm.
She mentioned winds across the Buffalo Skyway have neared 80 mph — larger than these within the blizzard of 1977.
Elements of Lengthy Island and New York Metropolis have seen coastal flooding of as much as 3 ft, which is beginning to abate, though extra rain is predicted within the space, Hochul mentioned.
Bray mentioned the primary hazard within the metropolis would be the low temperatures, windy situations, and ice, with a flash freeze anticipated later right this moment.
Hochul mentioned the Hudson Valley, Capital Area, North Nation and Southern Tier have seen rain and excessive winds, with snow additionally reported within the latter two areas, however main points have not been reported.
Transportation impacts: A flash freeze has already hit the western a part of the state and is predicted to affect jap areas, too, prompting widespread journey restrictions, Hochul mentioned.
“The roads are going to be like an ice skating rink, and your tires can not deal with this,” she mentioned.
Hochul mentioned in some areas, like Erie County, the business automobile driving ban has been expanded to all roads, and sure roads have exhausting closures.
“We actually need everybody to remain off the roads,” Bray mentioned. “The roads are going to be icy statewide. That is going to be by means of tomorrow, at the very least, earlier than any of that abates.”
Some roads and rail strains that closed Friday because of flooding have reopened as water recedes, the officers mentioned. Bray urged vacationers to take public transportation as an alternative of driving, saying the climate should not disrupt these transit choices any additional.
Hochul mentioned she doesn’t anticipate closures to New York Metropolis airports, though excessive winds may probably change that.
