Governor Hochul urges New Yorkers to prepare for a severe winter storm

New York State – Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered state officials to prepare for a severe winter storm that will bring dangerously cold temperatures and lakeside snow to New York starting Sunday.

Related: Schenectady County declares Code Blue as temperatures fall below freezing

The storm system is expected to impact the Mid-Hudson, New York City and Long Island regions with snow and freezing temperatures from the night of January 19th through the morning of January 20th.

Lake effect snow is expected in areas east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Sunday night through Wednesday.

Governor Hochul said:

As extreme cold and lake snow advance into our state in the coming days, I have directed our state agencies to mobilize their resources as we prepare to respond to this weather system. These conditions pose extraordinary risks to anyone exposed to the elements or unable to adequately heat their homes, and I encourage New Yorkers to take precautions to protect themselves and their families.

The storm could bring “feel-like temperatures” as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit across much of the state on the nights of January 20, 21 and 22.

New Yorkers are advised to monitor local weather conditions and prepare for winter weather.

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is in contact with local counterparts and stands ready to deploy emergency resources.

The Department of Transportation has 3,671 supervisors and operators statewide with equipment such as plow trucks and snow blowers ready to use.

The Thruway Authority has 691 operational operators and supervisors and has over 113,000 tons of salt.

All Thruway plow vehicles are equipped with green hazard warning lights to improve visibility during operation.

Utilities across the state have approximately 5,500 employees available for damage assessment and repair work.

State Police will deploy additional patrols as needed and the Department of Environmental Protection stands ready to coordinate deployment of resources.

Residents are asked to sign up for emergency alerts at alarm.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
• Keep pets indoors
• Avoid unnecessary travel

More information about security policies and updates can be found here