buffalo news travel bans

Travel ban lifted in Erie County as road conditions improve, warmer weather settles in

A travel ban has been lifted in New York’s Erie County, days after it was put into place as a deadly blizzard swept across the region, at times reducing visibility to zero.

The ban, which was implemented Friday, expired at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, officials said.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told reporters Wednesday night that the roads were in good enough condition to lift the ban.

“It has been 6 days,” Brown said. “Some people have not been able to restock groceries, to restock medications, to get to medical appointments, and being able to lift the travel ban safely now will allow people to do those important things.”

Most streets in the city are passable, Brown said, and he expected crews to have made a pass down the center of every residential street by the end of the night.

Though the ban has been lifted, a travel advisory was in place for Erie County as cleanup continues and a county-wide state of emergency remained. Brown asked people to be cautious and avoid driving unless necessary.

More than 450 pieces of equipment were on Buffalo streets plowing and hauling snow, and many traffic signals were still not working, he said.

The storm dumped upwards of 20 inches of snow in parts of New York — including nearly 52 inches at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

The powerful storm plunged much of the United States into a deep freeze, creating life-threatening conditions as more than 1 million homes and businesses were left in the dark, and wreaking havoc on flight schedules during the busy holiday travel week.

At least 76 people died in the storm, according to an NBC News tally. Erie County accounted for 37 of the deaths, 29 of which were in Buffalo.

Weather-related deaths were also reported in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Illinois and Vermont.

In Buffalo, officials said it was possible the number could rise.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said Wednesday night that police have cleared the backlog of calls relating to welfare checks, stranded motorists and reports of bodies.

Search and rescue teams were returning Thursday to check locations where bodies had been reported but could not be confirmed — either because of the amount of snow or the vagueness of location, Gramaglia said.

"We believe there were some credible 911 calls that contained more information ... low single digit numbers, that's again why we're going to concentrate our efforts on hitting those areas," he told reporters.

In Erie County, 17 of the people who died in the blizzard were found outside and four were in a vehicle , according to County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

Several people died because of a delay receiving emergency services or from cardiac events related to shoveling or blowing snow. Of the deaths, nine were people who died because they had no heat in their homes, he said.

Poloncarz said in a tweet Wednesday night that 500 National Guard members have conducted nearly 850 welfare checks on residents who had longterm power outages.

Power was being restored to New York, and by early Thursday, about 400 customers in the state were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us .

In Buffalo, where more than 20,000 customers were without power at one point during the storm, only three had no electricity Wednesday night, according to Brown, the mayor.

On Wednesday, city offices, facilities and roadways opened, as temperatures rose into the 40s across parts of New York.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which has been closed since Friday , reopened Wednesday.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday night that all major state highways in western New York, including the Erie County portion of Interstate 190 and several state routes, would reopen at midnight.

“I am extremely grateful to all the highway maintenance workers, first responders and emergency service staff who continue to work tirelessly to help their fellow New Yorkers," Hochul said in a statement .   

The temperature is expected to continue climbing to the low-50s in the Buffalo region by Friday, and will help melt the accumulated snow, according to the National Weather Service .

Claire Cardona is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital.

Saturday brings more snow, leaving some areas buried under 6 feet

On Friday, the National Weather Service expected snow totals of around two feet. Now, on Saturday, snow totals have already reached 77 inches in Orchard Park (6.4 feet) and 73.7 inches (6.14 feet) in Hamburg.

While NWS is reporting only 3.3 inches in Tonawanda, as of Erie County's 6 a.m. update, the expectation is that the snow is now moving northward, and areas that were not hit as badly Thursday and Friday can expect more snow Saturday.

• Lake Effect Snow Warnings are still in place through Sunday for several counties including Erie and Niagara
• Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for Wyoming, Allegany, Orleans, and McKean (PA) counties through Sunday.
• A State of Emergency in Erie County continues indefinitely
• A Travel Ban is in effect for most of Erie County— but has been downgraded to just an advisory in several locations.

Erie County Travel Ban

As of 3 p.m. travel ban is in effect for the City of Buffalo south of William Street, Hamburg, Evans, Eden, Boston, Orchard Park, Aurora, Wales, Marilla, Elma, West Seneca, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, and Alden. All other parts of Erie County are under a travel advisory.

"We are making progress in the city of Buffalo, but there is still a long way to go. We have had a snow ban set up for an extended period of time, as you know, in South Buffalo, dumping over four feet of snow," Mayor Byron Brown said.

Another eight to 10 inches are expected through 1 a.m. Sunday in the City of Buffalo.

"So we are coming to the end, hopefully, of this event, if the forecasts that we've received are correct," Brown added.

Erie County continues to provide updates every few hours on their YouTube channel.

“The vast majority of Erie County residents have done the right thing and stayed off the roads,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said in a tweet Friday. “Unfortunately, it only takes one to two vehicles to tie up plow and first responder crews. Please stay home.”

WNY Travel Bans & Advisories

Niagara County: No travel advisories are in effect and there are no plans to institute any, according to Niagara County Director of Emergency Services Jonathan Schultz.  

“We will continue to closely monitor the storm and be prepared to take any actions regarding travel and safety should they be deemed necessary,” Schultz said in a statement.  

Genesee County: No travel advisories are in effect, but the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to stay home so that emergency personnel can travel more easily.

 “Please remember that even if it is not snowing where you are, the destination you are traveling to may have poor visibility and heavy snow accumulation,” Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron said in a statement posted to Facebook. “The best and safest option for you and your loved ones is to stay home until the snowstorm passes.”  

Chautauqua County: No travel advisories are in effect, but officials are reminding Chautauqua County residents to postpone or cancel non-essential travel, drive slowly, keep 200 feet behind snow plows and keep an emergency kit and cell phone with them if driving, according to a Thursday news release .  

“With this storm, drivers should be prepared for areas of snow-covered roads and poor visibility,” Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone said in a statement. “If you must travel, drivers are urged to slow down and use caution when traveling on slick or snow-covered roads.” 

You can find more information for your county by clicking here:

• Erie County - http://www2.erie.gov/
• Niagara County - http://niagaracounty.com/
• Chautauqua County - http://chautauqua.ny.us/
• Cattaraugus County - http://www.cattco.org/
• Orleans County - http://www.orleansny.com/
• Wyoming County - http://www.wyomingco.net/
• Allegany County - https://www.alleganyco.gov/
• Genesee County - http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/

NFTA & Colleges

As of Saturday morning, the NFTA says buses are not running in Erie and Niagara counties, except for Paratransit but the NFTA is asking riders to reschedule if possible.

Erie County Community South Campus is being used as a snow dump by the county, and North Campus is being utilized for staging rescue crews.

National Guard Deployed & State Efforts

Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed the National Guard to assist in Erie County's efforts.

The National Guard has arrived at @ErieCountyNY 's Emergency Operations Center. They are being sent out to pickup and deliver people whom require dialysis. Thanks @GovKathyHochul for calling them up to help with the response efforts. pic.twitter.com/jPlxXk8biF — Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) November 19, 2022

In advance of the storm, Gov. Hochul on Thursday urged residents in Western New York to stay home

“We’re expecting upwards of two to four feet. It’s not just the volume, two to four feet the first night, we could possibly see anywhere from four to six feet between now and Sunday. It is the rate of snow that is most concerning,” Hochul said.

Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Travel ban continues in Buffalo

5th UPDATE: Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted :

“The driving ban in the City of Buffalo is expected to remain through today and will be reevaluated in the overnight/early morning based on street clearing progress.”

••••••••

4th UPDATE: On Wednesday morning, City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown tweeted :

“PLEASE SHARE! The @NFTAMetro is restoring service to the following bus routes: 4 Broadway 8 Main 24 Genesee 25 Delaware 34 NF Blvd 35 Sheridan 40 Buffalo-NF 50 Buffalo Ave 52 N. End Circulator 55 Pine Ave 59 NCCC Rail service will resume at 11am. Paratransit is still suspended.”

The Buffalo Police Department tweeted:

“BREAKING: Driving Ban remains in effect in Buffalo. There are over 450 pieces of snow fighting equipment on City streets. Please stay off the roads to allow crews to remove & haul snow.”

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted :

•“Crews are out clearing snow and towing vehicles on Rt. 198 and Rt. 33. The 33 is particularly difficult with the below-grade section having 30ft drifts. @NYSDOTBuffalo is responsible for this route. Even if roads are cleared, a driving ban remains in the City of Buffalo.”

•“The goal is for every road in the City of Buffalo to have one lane open within 24 hrs. The @ErieCountyDPW area of responsibility is on track to have all roads open by 7pm tonight.”

•“There are Military Police out with @ErieCountyDPW crews assisting in traffic control because there are far too many cars out on the road in the City of Buffalo. The driving ban remains in effect for Buffalo”

•"Everyone who called 858-SNOW will be receiving a follow up to ensure safety and well-being."

3rd UPDATE: On Tuesday night, City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown tweeted:

“As we continue to clear roads and restore power to residents, Buffalo City Hall will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday). A Driving Ban remains in effect for the City of Buffalo.”

2nd UPDATE: Later on Tuesday morning, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted :

•“UPDATE: The driving ban for the City of Lackawanna has been changed to an advisory. A driving ban REMAINS IN EFFECT for the City of Buffalo.”

Image courtesy of Erie County

Poloncarz added:

•“In regards to opening up Buffalo's streets, our @ErieCountyDPW , @NYSDOT and Bflo have major resources out but the snow is NOT plowable. It must be scooped up and put into dump trucks, then dumped elsewhere. It will take approximately 2 days to open up 1 lane on every city street.”

•“ Our @ErieCountyESU department is coordinating to ensure emergency crews have fuel and supplies have not become an issue. We are also making sure supplies are able to get to grocery stores and keep shelves stocked. Currently, are not hearing reports of any stock issues.”

•“We are in an ongoing State of Emergency and a driving ban remains for the City of Buffalo. You can absolutely go out and walk to check on neighbors, go to open stores, etc. But do not drive.”

•“The Skyway and other parts of Rt. 5, Rt. 33, and Rt. 198 will be closed for some time. The Thruway, 190 and 290 are in the process of being opened. When the 190 opens, DO NOT get off at Buffalo exits. @NYSThruway will be blocking these ramps.”

•“With 50 degree temperatures and rain later this week, we are working with our @NWSBUFFALO partners to monitor the forecast. This is one of the reasons certain streets are targeted for extra clearance to allow for proper drainage of melt water”

•“Vehicles that were towed by Erie County will be at ECC North. Visit http://erie.gov/towedvehicles If your vehicle is not on the list, it was NOT towed by Erie County. Other municipalities are working on their own websites.”

UPDATE: Shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted the following travel update:

“We can announce that the driving ban has been reduced to an advisory for Cheektowaga as of 7am. Bans are still in effect for the City of Buffalo and City of Lackawanna. All of Erie County remains under a State of Emergency.”

On Monday evening, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted the following travel updates:

•“The Driving Ban will be lifted in the Town of Amherst as of 7 pm. The Driving Ban will NOT be lifted for Buffalo, Lackawanna, and Cheektowaga during the overnight hours. Lackawanna and Cheektowaga will be revisited in the morning; Buffalo will continue through tomorrow.”

•“As of 5pm, we have lifted driving bans for the Town and Village of Hamburg, Village of Blasdell, and Town of Clarence; driving advisories remain for all municipalities not under a driving ban. All of Erie County remains under a State of Emergency.”

Hometown News

View All News

Follow Us On

Niagara Frontier Publications

1859 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072 Phone: 716-773-7676 Fax: 716-773-7190

Get an Email Update!

All materials appearing on this Web page and website © copyright 2024 Niagara Frontier Publications. No materials may be reproduced without the express written consent of Niagara Frontier Publications.

Last Erie County travel ban to be lifted Monday afternoon

UPDATE: The final travel ban in Erie County - for the city of Lackawanna - will be lifted at 1 p.m. this afternoon.

MORE: Final travel ban in Erie County to be lifted this afternoon

A travel ban remains in effect for most of Erie County on Sunday as a wicked lake effect snow storm continues to slam parts of the region with high winds and heavy snow.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has lifted the travel ban for the towns of Tonawanda, Amherst, Grand Island, Clarence, Newstead, Holland, Colden, Sardinia, Concord, North Collins, and Collins. The gate will remain closed on the 219.

The travel ban will stay in effect for the rest of the county until further notice.

In consultation with NYS, Erie County is lifting the travel ban for the towns of Amherst, Clarence, Grand Island, Newstead and Towawanda as of 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The travel ban for the towns of Colden, Collins, Concord, Holland, North Collins and Sardinia ended at 8 am. pic.twitter.com/jhSaifKMi1 — Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) January 14, 2024

The storm has already dropped a foot of snow in Orchard Park as of 11 a.m. Sunday, with another six to 12 inches expected to fall. The NFL postponed today's Bills-Steelers Wild Card game at Highmark Stadium until 4:30 p.m. Monday. Whiteout conditions have made traveling in the area around the stadium treacherous.

Current conditions on Abbott Road in front of Highmark Stadium. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/TYhpNtKeuY — Sean Mickey WKBW (@SeanMickey7) January 14, 2024

This is why the Bills game was postponed. pic.twitter.com/iNkG8uF4al — Michael Schwartz (@MSchwartzTV) January 14, 2024

This is a half-hour later. You cannot see the stadium and these videos aren’t doing it justice. Right now, I cannot even see the fence to the construction site with my own eyes. Stay safe everyone. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/ETw769Km4b — Adam Campos (@arcampostv) January 14, 2024

The Buffalo Bills are asking snow shovelers to abide by the travel ban and not to report to the stadium until the ban is lifted and conditions improve. The team says there will be multiple shifts of shovelers to get the stadium ready for game time.

The 7 Weather team says more than two feet of snow will fall in the most persistent snow bands.

A Voice For Everyone

We want to hear what’s going on in your community. Share your voice and hear from your neighbors.

Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information.

Now signed up to receive the headlines newsletter..

Plan your weekend with these 7 things to do!

• NURSES: Nominate a Nurse
• Work For WBLK
• Community Cornerstone
• World's Largest Yard Sale
• We Are Buffalo DEALS
• Home Grown Heat
• Listen Live Now

Travel Ban Lifted In Buffalo, New York

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

As Western New York begins to dig out from Winter Storm Gerri and all the snow it dumped on the area, officials from all government areas have been gathering and discussing the response that has come out from the storm.

At the height of the storm, many areas of Erie and Niagara counties were experiencing near-zero visibility and whiteout conditions. While this storm may not have hit the technical definition of a blizzard, there were blizzard-like all over the region.

That was apparent in the areas that were hit the hardest by the snow bands as they osculated in Western New York and traveled from the southtowns into the city and northtowns and back to the south. At points, you could be standing directly in front of Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park and not actually be able to see the stadium. Those conditions were repeated all over, including South Buffalo, West Seneca, Hamburg, and countless other places.

Those conditions necessitated the need to implement a driving ban, and while there are people who truly dislike them, it's clear from the conditions on the roads that it was the right decision for many.

Travel Bans In Buffalo and Other Parts Of Erie County Being Lifted

As weather conditions improved early during the day on Sunday, January 14, 2024, officials began lifting travel bans. It first started with parts of the southtowns, followed by the far northtowns like Amherst and Tonawanda . That left bans in effect in the City of Buffalo, and other parts of the southtowns, as conditions there were still untenable.

Now, as things have improved into the evening, officials feel secure to remove further driving restrictions starting at 6 am on Monday, January 15, 2024. This includes the City of Buffalo and most of Erie County.

While the ban is being lifted in most of the county, the driving ban remains in effect for the towns of Cheektowaga and Lancaster, along with the city of Lackawanna. In addition, all of the major highways are also remaining closed for the near future. This includes I90 and I190, along with Routes 5, 219, and 400.

While the driving ban is being lifted in many areas in the region, they still recommend people take care if they have to travel and only travel if necessary.

Here Are A Few Things To Do To Get Ready For A Winter Snowstorm

Gallery Credit: Ed Nice

5 Vehicles That Don't Belong On The Roads In A Snowstorm

Gallery Credit: Clay Moden

New Laws That Start In 2024 In New York State

Gallery Credit: Dave Fields

More From 93.7 WBLK

• ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream Watch Now
• THE LOOP | NYC Weather and Traffic Cams Watch Now
• winter storm

Near whiteout conditions in Buffalo force travel ban, NFL playoff game postponement

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A travel ban remains in effect for Erie County, as near whiteout conditions pound Buffalo and western New York this weekend.

Severe lake effect snow is impacting the region, which prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul to announce the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game to be rescheduled from Sunday to Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Hochul took to X , formerly Twitter, on Saturday and noted that the decision was made after speaking with emergency response teams, Bills leadership and the NFL.

Residents of the county that includes Buffalo were told to stay off the roads starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, with the forecast calling for 1 to 2 feet or more of snow and winds gusting as high as 65 mph.

"It will not be safe to be out on the roads tonight," Hochul said Saturday, adding that the travel ban will allow crews to try stay on top of snow removal.

Hochul said the "bullseye" of the storm is expected to hit Orchard Park, where the Bills was scheduled to play Sunday.

A state of emergency was issued Friday by the governor ahead of the potentially life-threatening conditions in the region.

The intense lake-effect snow during this storm is expected to amount to 1-3 feet.

RELATED: Winter storm to bring more rain, flooding, and then a freeze to NYC, Tri-State

The same winter storm dumped heavy snow across the Plains and Midwest, ushering in some of the coldest air of the season.

The cold was the biggest concern in the Dakotas. It was 11 degrees below zero F (minus 24 C) in Bismarck, North Dakota, on Friday morning, and forecasters warned the weekend would get even worse. It could reach 20 below F (minus 29 C) by early Sunday.

Near-record cold in Kansas City made for a frigid NFL playoff game Saturday night between the Chiefs and Miami. The game time temperature was 7 below zero with a wind chill of 27 below.

The University of Kansas Health System set up a clinic and several first aid stations at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Subscribe to the Weather or Not with Lee Goldberg podcast

MORE ACCUWEATHER RESOURCES

Check AccuTrack Radar

Air Quality Tracker

NWS Advisories, Watches and Warnings

School closings and delays

For weather updates wherever you go, please download the AccuWeather app .

Follow meteorologist Lee Goldberg , Sam Champion , Brittany Bell , Jeff Smith , and Dani Beckstrom on social media.

Related Topics

• CONNECTICUT
• ACCUWEATHER
• WINTER STORM
• NYC WEATHER

Winter Storm

'Storm of the Century': Revisiting the March blizzard of 1993

How much snow? Surprising amounts across NYC, NJ

NY 3rd District race winds down; winter storm aftermath

How much snow did you get?

Top stories.

Harvey Weinstein hospitalized at Bellevue ahead of court hearing

Gilgo Investigation: Search area expanded for human remains

Parents being questioned after newborn found dead on Staten Island

2.9-magnitude aftershock reported in New Jersey, USGS says

Negotiations continue between Columbia University, student protesters

Islanders stave off elimination with double OT win

• 2 hours ago

5 people injured in Washington D.C. nightclub shooting: Police

AccuWeather: Warmer, spot shower