BUFFALO, N.Y. — Here are the latest updates as Buffalo and Western New York deal with a potentially historic winter storm this holiday weekend.
The City of Buffalo is still under a travel ban.
For more Storm Team 2 coverage:
TUESDAY
8:00 p.m. As of Tuesday evening, National Grid said it restored electricity service to 98% or 105,7000 of the 107,700 Western New York customers affected by the historic multi-day blizzard.
2:58 p.m. GoFundMe releases veted campaigns that people can donate to if they want to help those that have been affected by the blizzard. Those campaigns can be viewed on the Buffalo Blizzard: How you can help page on GoFundMe.
2:30 p.m.
1:16 p.m. Wegmans reports it will open its West Seneca store at 370 Orchard Park Road at 2 p.m. It's store at Amherst Street will have to close early today at 7 p.m. "due to the resources available to maintain store operations." All other Wegmans stores will close at 8 p.m.
12:52 p.m.
12:12 p.m. After reopening and then reclosing the Thruway, the Thruway Authority and Gov. Kathy Hochul have announced that the Thruway is reopened to all traffic in Western New York. NITTEC confirmed that around 9:30 a.m. U.S. 219, U.S. 400, I-290 and the I-990 reopened.
Gov. Hochul also confirmed that part of the I-190 in Erie County is still closed as progress to reopen it is underway.
12:10 p.m. The I-190 has reopened from the Lewiston/Queenston Bridge through the I-290.
12:05 p.m. The Cheektowaga Police Department has created a database for people to find their vehicles if they were towed by Cheektowaga. The database can be access on the Cheektowaga Police website.
11:58 a.m. Channel 2 News learned Tuesday morning that the airfield at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is still expected to reopen at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The NFTA is strongly encouraging travelers to checked with their airlines on the status of their flights.
11:50 a.m. The following update about NFTA services was provided:
As of Tuesday December 27, The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) will restore bus service on the following routes,
4 Broadway
8 Main
24 Genesee
25 Delaware
34 Niagara Falls Boulevard
35 Sheridan
40 Buffalo-Niagara Falls
50 Buffalo Ave
52 North End Circulator
55 Pine Ave
59 NCCC
Metro Rail service will continue with trains leaving every half-hour.
Paratransit service remains suspended.
Please continue to check for service updates via social media and on Metro’s website: metro.nfta.com.
11:34 a.m. City of Buffalo officials confirm that the I-190 will remain closed.
11:28 a.m. Erie County Officials say a database has been set up for people to find their cars. People can head to a county database here. Only vehicles towed by the county will be on this list.
11:26 a.m. Erie County Officials have confirmed three more deaths, bringing their total to 28. Two other deaths that had been attributed to the storm are no longer considered storm related.
11:12 a.m. The City of Buffalo has established an anti-looting task force.
11:11 a.m. Under 4,000 of customers are without power in Buffalo.
11:06 a.m. The City of Buffalo storm-related death total has risen to 28. Mayor Byron Brown announced that all stranded motorists have been rescued.
11:05 a.m. The City of Buffalo provides an update on storm clean up.
11:00 a.m. Erie County Provides an update on storm clean up.
10:30 a.m. After reopening the New York State Thruway, the Thruway Authority decided to reclose it. NYS DOT called 2 On Your Side to say the I-190 is also still closed.
10:10 a.m. Thruway gates still not open at Pembroke.
10:00 a.m. The City of Lackawanna is no longer under a travel ban, it is now under a travel advisory.
9:39 a.m. 2 On Your Side's Dave McKinley ran into issues getting onto the Thruway at Batavia however. The gates were still down.
9:30 a.m. On Monday morning, major highways in Western New York were reopened. NITTEC confirmed that the Thruway reopened around 9:30 a.m. along with I-190, U.S. 219, U.S. 400, I-290 and the I-990.
Route 33 and 198, as well as the Skyway will remain closed.
9:00 a.m. The City of Buffalo confirms 27 storm-related deaths. Erie County also reports 27 confirmed storm-related deaths for the county.
7:15 a.m. Tops is continuing to open location across Erie County. Today new locations open include some in Buffalo at Elmwood Avenue, Jefferson Avenue, and University Plaza across from UB South Campus. The Thruway Mall and Union Road locations in Cheektowaga are open as well.
6:00 a.m A travel ban is now only in effect for the cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna. All other areas of Erie County are under a travel advisory.
5:35 a.m.
MONDAY
10 p.m. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said it will be suspending service for all Metro bus, rail and Paratransit on Tuesday, December 27, until further notice due to continued driving conditions. All staff who are scheduled to work will be required to do so.
9:00 p.m. National Grid said it restored electricity service to 93,600 of its 104,600 affected by the historic multi-day blizzard. There are 5,243 folks left without power.
8:00 p.m.The travel ban in the City of Buffalo is still in place. The ban will allow plow crews more time to continue their work to clear streets throughout the city. According to the news release, the city also announced that President Joe Biden signed an emergency declaration Monday for Buffalo and surrounding areas.
3:00 p.m. The Town of Evans is no longer under a travel ban, it has been downgraded to an advisory.
2:56 p.m. The Village of Kenmore will not be collecting trash this week. Trash collection will resume the week of Jan. 3, 2023.
2:44 p.m. Gov. Hochul spoke with President Joe Biden to urge him to approve a request for a federal emergency disaster declaration.
2:00 p.m. Travel advisory dropped for all of Genesee County.
1:51 p.m. The NFTA announced the Buffalo Niagara Airport will remain closed until 11 a.m. Wednesday.
1:18 p.m. Tops Friendly Markets have begun to reopen in Erie County. Check out a full list here.
1:04 p.m. Mayor Byron Brown spoke directly to people who have been looting businesses, condemning their actions and saying that many of them appear to be taking things they want and are not necessarily in any sort of need.
1:01 p.m. Officials clarified that plows have been needed to be used to keep emergency paths open and because of the continuing snow they have not been able to start clearing residential roads, especially given the cars that have become stuck in the roads.
12:54 p.m. Erie County Mark Poloncarz clarified that the Medical Examiner's office has not confirmed all the deaths that Buffalo has announced. As of right now, 25 deaths have been confirmed.
12:47 p.m. Mayor Byron Brown reported that the number of people without power in Buffalo is now around 10,000.
12:46 p.m. Gov. Hochul reported that officers from the Rochester Police Department have come to Buffalo and WNY to help with response efforts.
12:43 p.m. The Thruway will remain closed until further notice, conditions will be evaluated as to when they can be reopened, according to Hochul.
12:38 p.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul provides a winter storm update.
12:30 p.m. The Town of West Seneca is no longer under a travel ban, the area has been downgraded to a travel advisory.
12:07 p.m. National Grid provided the following statement about efforts to restore power:
"National Grid continues to partner with a coalition of state and local emergency response organizations to identify and prioritize areas for road clearance to facilitate access for power restoration crews after a multi-day blizzard crippled western New York. Snow is expected to continue today with up to an additional 12 inches of accumulation that may further impact restoration efforts."
11:15 a.m. Alternate side parking has been suspended in Cheektowaga for the rest of the week. The town will also release a spreadsheet with information about where vehicles that have been towed have been taken.
11:08 a.m. Town of Amherst officials expect that a majority of the roads in the town will be cleared by this evening. The driving ban will be reevaluated tonight and if it is lifted a 24-hour parking ban will be put in place.
10:44 a.m.
9:40 a.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said 25 storm related fatalities have been confirmed by the Medical Examiner's office.
9:30 a.m. Erie County officials hold a storm briefing.
8:55 a.m. The travel ban in Orchard Park was lifted.
8:23 a.m. A spokesperson for the City of Buffalo reports that there are 20 confirmed deaths related to the storm in the city.
7:43 a.m. Alternate parking enforcement has been suspended on side streets in the City of Buffalo until further notice.
7:14 a.m. 2 On Your Side confirmed with Erie County officials that travel ban for Orchard Park has been dropped. A travel advisory is now in effect.
7:02 a.m.
6:05 a.m. A travel ban will remain in effect in Buffalo, Lackawanna, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Evans, Hamburg, Orchard Park and West Seneca.
SUNDAY
11:16 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz confirmed another death, this one a 22-year-year-old woman who was found in a car in Buffalo.
10:58 p.m. On Sunday evening, Tops said stores throughout Erie County would remain closed on Monday. All Wegmans locations in Erie and Niagara counties will also remain closed Monday.
9:41 p.m. Here's the latest Storm Team 2 forecast with Carl Lam.
7:38 p.m. The Town of Tonawanda will lift its driving ban at 7 a.m. Monday. "We advise anyone who has to go out tomorrow to exercise caution on the roads, especially at they approach and go through intersections," the town said.
6:41 p.m. Buffalo Police have announced another four storm-related deaths, bringing the total to 16 in Erie County.
"BPD has recovered four and have confirmation of another six," police said in a statement Sunday evening. "Authorities have additional 911 calls regarding dead bodies that police are also working diligently to get to to confirm and recover. BPD also is working very hard to complete welfare checks in an effort to reduce potential deaths. The deaths are people found outside and in cars."
5:49 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz urges people to abide by the travel ban before ending the news conference.
5:46 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says cars that have been stranded have been towed to various locations, but says there are "still hundreds" of cars out on the streets. State troopers have been authorized to ticket people who violate travel bans, which are a Class B misdemeanor and could lead to jail time.
5:42 p.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul has wrapped up her portion of the news conference. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz stays behind and will answer more questions from the media.
5:39 p.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul said her own home has been impacted by the weekend storm, with a lack of power and some flood damage.
5:30 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says there were "rescue missions to rescue the rescuers," given the weather. Poloncarz and Gov. Kathy Hochul say they were prepared, and that they were well prepared when it came to summoning the National Guard.
5:21 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says of the 12 confirmed weather-related deaths:
- Six have been in the City of Buffalo.
- Three have been in Amherst.
- Three have been in Cheektowaga, with one of those in Depew.
- The youngest person who died was 26 years old.
- The oldest person who died was 93 years old.
5:19 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says for people who lack power now, it might not be restored until Tuesday because substations froze.
5:17 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said more snow is on the way, and it will add to the problems that already exist as crews attempt to clear roads and help people who need it. The driving ban will continue until at least 7 a.m. Monday, at which point is might drop for some communities. No decisions have been made yet.
5:14 p.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul urges people to stay off the road, stressing that the storm will not end today.
5:11 p.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul, speaking at a news conference with Erie County officials, said there have been 12-storm related deaths. Earlier on Christmas morning, the number provided by local officials was seven.
3:19 p.m. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is driving home the message that people need to stay home and off the roads. He said he's sad that it's been such a difficult Christmas for people across Western New York.
3:10 p.m. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says the number of deaths continues to rise, without giving any specific numbers. He says as more people violate the driving ban, more lives will be lost. He says people are dying in their cars.
3:08 p.m. "People are dying in cars, that's the reality of it," Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said during a 3 p.m. interview on WBEN, urging people to stay off the road and stay home while a driving ban is in place.
9 a.m. On Sunday Erie County County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the travel ban will remain in effect due to more snow accumulating Saturday night. Also, that there are 26, 000 power outages in Erie County and 20,000 in Buffalo. He said the earlier power will be restored is Monday.
Poloncarz said there were four deaths overnight in Erie County from the winter storm, totaling seven deaths as of this morning.
8 a.m. The Genesee County manager said all roads are now open. The travel ban has been downgraded to a travel advisory. The travel advisory means that no unnecessary travel is advised. A trip that could wait until the advisory is lifted should not be made.
According to the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, the travel ban for Niagara County has been lifted. A travel advisory will remain in place for the City of Lockport, the City of Niagara Falls, and the City of North Tonawanda.
SATURDAY
10:04 p.m.
9:50 p.m.
9:41 p.m.
9:16 p.m.
9:01 p.m. Erie County Water Authority issued a boil water notice for homes supplied water through the water main on on Eastbrooke Place at Greiner Road in the Town of Clarence. That watermain has been broken for 24-hours and because of the location being impossible to access due to road conditions have prevented crews from making any repairs.
ECWA reports that 61 homes have been affected on all of Eastbrooke Place and two homes on Greiner Road. All locations will have to boil their water once restored until further notice.
8:40 p.m. The City of Buffalo reports that 65 people stranded in vehicles were rescued by first responders on Friday. Efforts are still underway to rescue other people who are stranded. A travel ban remains in effect for all of Erie County.
Erie County reported that plows are being taken off the roads in the Harlem District as zero visibility has been reported.
8:23 p.m.
6:53 p.m. Here's the latest Storm Team 2 forecast.
6:40 p.m. Niagara County provides weather update.
Officials reported that power outages were down to 1,900 from 3,000 earlier in Niagara County.
Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti and Niagara County Emergency Services Director Jonathan Schultz said that zones would be established once they are able to start towing cars to tow yards. A log will be kept of where vehicles were taken and people can get that information from dispatch at 716-438-3394.
6:08 p.m. The NFTA reported that 172 people are taking cover at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport including 60 passengers, rescued motorists, and airport employees.
5:57 p.m.
5:37 p.m. NFTA announced bus, rail and paratransit service will continue to be suspended on Sunday.
5:30 p.m. National Grid said in a statement: "The company expects that some outages in the hardest-hit areas, such as the City of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Albion and Batavia, could last longer than 48 hours after the storm subsides."
5:23 p.m.
4:21 p.m. Only three fatalities have been confirmed so far, two reported this morning and another individual who froze in the City of Buffalo.
4:18 p.m. Mark Poloncarz reminded people that the 716-858-SNOW number is to only be used for serious but not immediate life threatening situations, like need for cancer treatment or dialysis. More than 400 calls have been coming in per hour, which has hindered their ability to help people who need it. People trapped in their homes or cars should not call that number.
4:15 p.m. More than 50 rescues have been made by Erie County Sheriff's Deputies since yesterday, that does include a child and some deputies who were attempting to get into work. Sheriff Garcia reported that those deputies have been working for the last 24 hours, with breaks for rest and sleep, to rescue people.
4:11 p.m. Officials are reminding people that cleared roads have been repeatedly blocked by drivers attempting to go out and then getting stuck. This has hindered the efforts of first responders to rescue drivers who have been stuck for hours.
4:10 p.m. Poloncarz said that a driving ban was left in place for the entire county in anticipation of the snow moving back south again. This is in an effort to make sure fewer people become stranded when the weather moves back through other parts of the county.
4:08 p.m. Equipment from lower districts in Erie County have been brought up to more intensely impacted northern districts.
A site will be established to tow cars to once crews are able to get to them.
4:06 p.m. Power companies are struggling to keep up with power outages, Poloncarz reported that as soon as it is restored it one area, it goes out in another area.
It is a major concern of some houses getting under 40 degrees in the overnight hours.
3:29 p.m. Aside from telling people not to drive, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is warning people not to go outside and risk getting hypothermia.
2:35 p.m.
1:00 p.m. In Chautauqua County a mandatory evacuation order was lifted in the Towns of Hanover and Sheridan and for anyone who lives within the Village of Silver Creek, Hanford Bay or Sunset Bay.
The travel advisory for the county was also lifted. However, a State of Emergency remains in effect through Monday.
12:40 p.m. The National Guard has arrived in Buffalo and anyone that needs help or assistance can call 716-585-7869.
12:00 p.m. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said on Saturday that the airfield at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport will remain closed until 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 26, 2022, due to high winds and low visibility.
8:00 a.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says because the weather conditions are so bad that there are no emergency medical services available for those living in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Town of Tonawanda, Village of Kenmore, Lancaster, Amherst, Clarence, and Williamsville. He says these are the worst affected areas. He says attempts will be made if there is a life-threatening situation.
Poloncarz said two people died in Cheektowaga in separate incidents because rescue crews could not get to them in time due to the weather conditions.
6:30 A.M.: The Town Of Amherst said roads and adjacent sides streets are impassable. A travel ban is still in effect for the Town of Amherst. There should be no unnecessary travel. Officers have responded to over two hundred calls for stranded motorists due to zero visibility and deep snow.
There are over one hundred vehicles that had to be abandoned due to the severe cold. The Amherst Police is advising that residents stay home until this weather event has passed.
Friday
11:37 p.m. Here's the latest Storm Team 2 forecast.
10:09 p.m. Freezing cold temperatures are now being reported across Western New York, and it's going to get colder overnight.
9:29 p.m. According to the National Weather Service shortly before 9 p.m., 16.8 inches of snow has fallen at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Kenmore had received 11.3 inches of a 4:30 p.m.
9:25 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is prepared to stay inside, away from home, during this storm.
8:45 p.m. As of 8:45 p.m. Friday, more than 31,000 National Grid customers were in the dark across Western New York, with more than 23,000 of those being in Erie County. As of 8:45 p.m. Friday, more than 6,000 NYSEG customers lacked power, with over 4,200 of those located in Erie County.
7:02 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is sending an important reminder that if you drive in the blizzard, you will be ticketed. "If law enforcement can even get to you, which is a good question, because it is very dangerous, it's very difficult for them to get out there. They will be written up a ticket for a class 'B' misdemeanor. They will at best remove you from your vehicle; this is first responders and law enforcement," Poloncarz said.
6:18 p.m. The NFTA will suspend service for all Metro bus, rail and Paratransit on Saturday due to dangerous weather conditions. The suspension of services had begun at 2 a.m. Friday, ahead of the storm.
5:07 p.m. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown began his 5 p.m. winter storm update.
4:22 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz wraps up the news conference by again urging people to stay home and stay safe. There are no plans to have another news conference later today.
4:14 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says it's too difficult for some Department of Public Works crews to be on the road. It's not the snow, he says, but the wind and blowing snow that's causing visibility issues.
4:07 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is asking people not to call 911 for non-emergencies, such as power outages, weather forecasts, and asking general questions. He issued a warning about people violating the travel ban, putting first responders' lives at risk.
4:02 p.m. Erie County officials are providing a winter storm update.
3:07 p.m.
2:45 p.m. More than 30,000 customers are without power in Erie County.
2:34 p.m.
2:17 p.m. A viewer shared with us footage of the Wehrle Golf Dome coming down from the wind and snow.
2:06 p.m. The Thruway was closed to all traffic from the Rochesters exit (exit 46) to the Pennsylvania State line.
2:00 p.m. A State of Emergency and Travel ban has been issued in Orleans County. Officials are telling people to stay home and off the roads.
2:00 p.m. A travel ban went into effect for Niagara County. A travel ban was also issued for all of Genesee County, upgrading the travel advisory. A travel ban was also issued for Orleans County.
1:48 p.m. The Thruway Authority announced the NYS Thruway (I-90) is closed to ALL traffic from exit 46 (Rochester) to the Pennsylvania State line. The I-190 is also closed from the I-90 to exit 22 (Route 62) until further notice.
1:44 p.m. Genesee County issued a travel ban and a State of Emergency effective immediately.
Sheriff Sheron encourages residents, “For your safety and the safety of first responders and highway snow removal personnel this holiday weekend, please stay off the roads until conditions improve.”
1:21 p.m. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport announced it has closed and all evening flight are canceled.
1:05 p.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul held a storm briefing.
12:56 p.m. The Town of Evans issued a voluntary evacuation notice for areas along Lake Erie Beach, Grandview Bay, Purvis Landing and Wendt Beach. There are two shelters available at Lake Erie Beach Volunteer Fire Hall and Highland Hose Volunteer Fire Hall.
12:35 p.m. Chautauqua County has issued a State of Emergency for portions of the County north of Route 5. There is a mandatory evacuation in place in the Towns of Hanover and Sheridan for the entire areas of Hanford Bay and Sunset Bay. This would include all lakefront areas north of the railroad tracks. There is also a mandatory evacuation for lake shore properties within the Village of Silver Creek- Any residents in City of Dunkirk and the Towns of Dunkirk, Pomfret, Portland, Ripley and Westfield who live along the Lake Erie Shoreline are urged to evacuate. Silver Creek High School at 1 Dickinson St. in Silver Creek, N.Y. will be open for an emergency shelter.
12:22 p.m. The National Weather Service is reporting zero visibility at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
11:34 a.m. Hurricane level wind gust recorded in Lackawanna.
11:15 a.m; Buffalo Public Works Commissioner Nate Marton says they are seeing flooding at Broderick Park due to the high winds causing the water to rise. He says they had a level of over 9' recorded at Coast Guard station in Buffalo. Road crews are out and treating roads, Parks and Forestry are also out handling trees.
10:43 a.m. New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer call for FEMA to approve any request from New York State for a major disaster declaration.
10:40 a.m. More than 26,000 customers in Erie County are without power. Get more updates about power outages here.
10:04 a.m. Wyoming County has issued a travel advisory.
10:03 a.m. Niagara Falls is under a travel ban effective immediately. It will remain in effect until further notice.
9:58 a.m. The City of Buffalo has issued a travel ban.
9:43 a.m. The City of Tonawanda has issued a State of Emergency and travel ban. A warming shelter has been set up at the First Methodist Church at 207 Grove Street.
9:12 a.m. Tops Friendly Market announced that all stores in Erie and Niagara counties will close at 2 p.m. on Friday. Distribution centers will also close at 2 p.m. At this time they do not know when they will reopen and will continue to watch weather conditions.
8:58 a.m. Erie County announced a travel ban will go into effect at 9:30 a.m. for all of Erie County.
8:53 a.m. The City of Lackawanna has issued a State of Emergency and travel advisory.
8:34 a.m. The Walden Galleria announced it would be closed on Friday.
8:30 a.m. The Village of Orchard Park announced it would be issuing a State of Emergency and a Travel Ban at 6 p.m. Friday.
8:28 a.m. Storm Team 2's Patrick Hammer is seeing wind gusts of over 60 mph in Cheektowaga.
8:16 a.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced that phone line has been opened for non-life threatening but serious situations. People in need of cancer treatment or dialysis can call 716-858-SNOW.
People in life threatening emergencies should still be called in to 911.
8:10 a.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz shared that officials are expecting a storm surge of over 4 feet above the flood line in the South Buffalo area. He encouraged people in low lying areas along the waterfront to leave if they could.
8:03 a.m. Erie County officials held a storm briefing.
7:22 a.m. The National Weather Service of Buffalo is reporting that snow is starting to hit Western New York. The western Southern Tier has been the first to see it. Dunkirk has seen a temperature drop of six degrees in eight minutes\.
7:00 a.m. Erie County is now under a Travel Advisory. That means no unnecessary travel is recommended.
A State of Emergency has gone into effect for Erie County and the City of Buffalo.
6:00 a.m. NITTEC announced a series of road closures in the area including I-190 between Exit 21 (Niagara Scenic Parkway) in Niagara Falls and Exit 25 (Upper Mountain) in Lewiston, I-219 from I-190 in Tonawanda to I-90 in Amherst, Route 400 from Olean Rd in Aurora to I-90 West Seneca, Route 5 from Big Tree Rd in Hamburg to I-190 in Buffalo, Route 219 from Peters Rd in Ashford to I-90 in West Seneca.
These roads are closed to all traffic.
Additionally, a State of Emergency issued by Gov. Kathy Hochul is now in effect as well as a commercial vehicle ban from exit 56 to the Pennsylvania state line
5:30 a.m. The City of Buffalo reports that crews have started pretreating main roads and secondary streets with salt ahead of the storm.
THURSDAY
10:10 p.m. The Federal Emergency Management Administration issued some tips earlier this year to stay warm and safe.
9:31 p.m. Here's the latest Storm Team 2 forecast with Kevin O'Neill.
9:03 p.m. One thing you'll want to pay attention to is your town or city's garbage pickup schedule over the coming days, with parts of Western New York in a Blizzard Warning. In Buffalo, garbage and recycling pickup is canceled on Friday. Pickup services will resume on Monday.
8:12 p.m. The Town of Hamburg issued a mandatory evacuation order for neighbors in the Hoover Beach area ahead of what's expected to be a major winter storm. Residents were asked to prepare for the worst and leave their homes by Thursday at 8 p.m., according to Emergency Manager Sean Crotty.
7:34 p.m. If you are fortunate to be staying put this weekend in areas being hit by the storm, there are still some things you can do to prepare your property for heavy winds. 2 On Your Side talked with National Grid about being prepared, so that you don't end up in a dangerous situation later this week.
5:27 p.m. The NFTA announced that it is suspending "all Metro service including bus, rail and Paratransit starting at 2 a.m. Friday due to dangerous weather conditions."
4:45 p.m. Cold weather continues in Western New York this week ahead of an impending winter storm, and as a result a Code Blue 32 has been issued for both the City of Buffalo and southern Erie County for Thursday night and during the day Friday.
2 p.m. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a statewide State of Emergency beginning at 6 a.m. Friday. Hochul says 7,500 utility workers are ready statewide, up from the usual 5,000. Over 2,000 snowplows are being deployed as well.
The governor issued a commercial truck ban from exit 56 to the Pennsylvania state line beginning at 6 a.m. Friday. She also issued what she called "soft closures," strongly recommending against travel, on state routes 219, 400, and 5 from Big Tree to the 190, as well as interstates 990, 290, and 190. She says those could change to full closures if the weather worsens.
1 p.m. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says he also has issued a State of Emergency for the county beginning Friday at 7 a.m. Plow trucks will be out pre-treating the roads.
12:30 p.m. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says he has issued a State of Emergency for the city beginning at 7 a.m. Friday. They're asking people to stay home, unless they are essential workers.
9:19 a.m. Several school districts across Western New York have cancelled classes, including the Buffalo Public Schools.
7:10 a.m. NYS issues a tandem and empty truck/trailer ban on the I-90 from exit 46 to the PA line.
5:56 a.m. The National Weather Service in Buffalo issued a Blizzard Warning for Niagara, Orleans, Erie, and Genesee counties. This watch is for 7 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Sunday.
For more Storm Team 2 coverage: