Winter Travel Bans and Advisories in WNY

ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. — Winter weather is in full effect in certain parts of Western New York and some areas have issued both travel advisories and bans.

A Lake Effect Snow Warning has been issued for Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties. The warning is in effect for northern Erie and Genesee counties until 1 p.m. Friday.

Here is a list of those with bans or advisories in effect:

• City of Dunkirk
• Town of Pomfret
• Fredonia
• Wyoming County
• Ripley
• Westfield
• Sheridan
• Silver Creek
• Portland
• Southern portion of Genesee County

• Town of Brant
• Town of Evans
• Hamburg
• Village of East Aurora
• Town of Aurora
• Town of Elma
• Village of Blasdell
• Village of Farnham
• Angola
• Boston
• Orchard Park
• The 219 is closed in both directions

An earlier post on social media stated a portion of the Thruway was closed by exit 55, but they have since deleted that post and provided this new update:

I-90: The westbound on-ramp to Rt. 219 south at exit 55 (Springville – Orchard Park – Lackawanna – West Seneca – US Route 219 – Ridge Road) is now closed until further notice due to the New York State Department of Transportation closing Rt. 219.

A tandem and empty-trailer ban started on Thursday at midnight for:

• NY Route 5 from NY 179 to I-190 (Erie County);
• US 219 from I-90 to I-86 (Erie and Cattaraugus counties);
• NY Route 400 from I-90 to NY 16 (Erie County); and
• I-86 from US 219 to the Pennsylvania State Line (Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties)

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for counties that are expected to be severely impacted.

We will continue to keep this story updated as more travel updates come in.