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December 23, 2022 winter storm news

By Aya Elamroussi , Derrick Hinds, Travis Caldwell , Aditi Sangal , Leinz Vales , Adrienne Vogt , Matt Meyer and Tori B. Powell CNN

Travel ban issued in the city of Niagara Falls, New York

From CNN’s Nicki Brown

The Police Department of the City of Niagara Falls has issued a travel ban until further notice.

The ban applies to all public roads with exceptions for essential travel, an official told CNN.

Here's what temperatures feel like right now across the US

It's cold out there — really cold.

A wide swath of the US is currently experiencing wind chills below 0 degrees, with wind chills making it feel like -37 degrees in parts if North Dakota to -19 in Tennessee. Even areas of Texas have wind chills topping out at just 5 degrees.

Here's a look at today's wind chill across the US:

Authorities urge Washington state drivers to delay all non-essential travel as road conditions worsen

From CNN’s Hannah Sarisohn 

Roadways across Washington state are closed or partially closed as spinouts, collisions and stalled vehicles accumulate, according to Washington State Department of Transportation’s traffic division.

“Due to the weather, we are advising delaying all non-essential travel,” WSDOT said in a Tweet. 

WSDOT urged caution for those who are out on the road. 

“Speed limits are for ideal conditions. Ice falling from the sky would not qualify for ideal conditions,”  WSDOT Tacoma said in a Tweet . 

WSDOT Southwest said its crews in Columbia River Gorge have replaced salt for sand as temperatures are too cold for salt to work.  

Seattle airport reopens one runway after icy conditions forced closure

From CNN’s Hannah Sarisohn, Danielle Sills, Paul Murphy and Rebekah Riess

One runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has reopened after being de-iced,  according to a tweet from the airport.   

“Limited operations will continue to be weather dependent as safety is always our main priority. Travelers should continue to monitor their flights and stay in touch with your airlines,” according to the airport’s tweet. 

It’s not yet clear when the remaining runways could reopen.

Earlier this morning, CNN reported that all the runways were closed “indefinitely” as the airport continues to work to de-ice runway surfaces.

Washington's Sound Transit — a regional network of express buses, commuter rail, light rail and transit facilities in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties — had also suspended all express services until further notice Friday morning “due to the icy conditions throughout the service area,” a  release  from Sound Transit said.

According to the Seattle-area transit service, their buses are unable to leave bus bases due to “deteriorating and unsafe road conditions.” 

“We regret this impact has on our riders. Service will be added as soon as it is safe for customers and employees,” the release said.

Flight delays affect airports from coast to coast, including some previously untouched by storm

From CNN's Pete Muntean

The massive winter storm battering the US has led to delays Friday at airports previously unaffected by the grim conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration just posted ground stops for flights bound to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, American Airlines’ second largest hub, where crews are taking deicing measures.

In the Pacific Northwest, the FAA had flights bound to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Portland International Airport under ground stops due to snow and ice, though one runway had reopened in Seattle by 11 a.m. ET.

The FAA also halted traffic at Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. — where flights were delayed and canceled Thursday, too — due to deicing. 

Reagan “will be chemically treating the airfield in advance of the flash freeze forecast for the area,” a FAA notice reads.

The FAA says major air pressure changes associated with the storm will trigger high winds at airports from Boston down to Atlanta.

The nearly 3,800 US flight cancelations recorded by FlightAware by late Friday morning have already dwarfed the roughly 2,600 nationwide on Thursday.

Denver mayor: "It's not safe for anyone to be outdoors"

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock warned residents from going outside as extremely cold temperatures continue to grip the area.

It's currently -4 degrees in the Mile High City, and the wind chill is making it feel like -18 degrees.

"It is not safe for anyone to be outdoors. ... Though it doesn't typically get this cold, we're familiar with the slick streets and roads, and so we're pretty experienced, but it's still not safe to be outdoors. If you don't have to get out, we ask people to stay indoors," he told CNN.

The mayor discussed how the cold is also a challenge due to the influx of migrants. In just the month of December, he said that 1,500 migrants have come to the city. He said the city in response has activated its emergency operations center, gotten some funding from the state and had discussions with Washington.

"Right now, the best the federal government could do really is the Emergency Food and Shelter Program that we can all apply for," he said.  

The city is slated to get a much-needed respite from the cold, as it'll get into the 50s by Christmas Day.

There has been at least 1 weather-related death on Kansas roads, state highway patrol reports

From CNN’s Rebekah Riess

Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) recorded three fatal crashes in north central Kansas on Wednesday evening, according to KHP Public Information Officer Lt. Candice Breshears.

There were three fatalities — one from each crash — but only one of those is confirmed to be weather-related, Breshears said.

The two other fatalities are “believed to be weather-related," but the agency is waiting on troopers to further their investigations, Breshears told CNN.

More than 1 million customers without power across the US Friday morning

Nationwide power outages have increased to more than 1,172,000 customers Friday morning, according poweroutage.us . 

Power outages are expected to continue to rise throughout the day. 

Here's a breakdown in terms of national regions:

• Southeast — 311,859
• New England —304,304
• Mid-Atlantic — 240,294
• South — 196,921
• Great Lakes — 80,456
• Pacific — 30,855
• Midwest — 13,307
• Territories — 7,678
• Mountain — 326

Commercial vehicles banned from several interstate highways in New Jersey

From CNN’s Caroll Alvarado

Commercial vehicles will be banned from several New Jersey interstate highways due to the severe winter weather front hitting the state, the New Jersey Department of Transportation announced . 

The ban started at 9 a.m. ET Friday and will be in place until further notice, the agency said. 

Commercial vehicles will not be allowed on both directions of interstates 76, 78, 80, 195, 280, 287, 295, 676 and Route 440 while in the state.

“New Jersey is expected to see rain, strong winds and the potential for snow and ice as the storm moves through and temperatures drop rapidly, which could make driving conditions treacherous,” the agency said in a release.

Tractor-trailers, passenger vehicles pulling trailers and empty straight CDL-weighted trucks are some of the commercial vehicles that’ll be impacted by this ban. 

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Update: Some travel ban lifted in Erie County, caution urged in Niagara County

Jan. 14—The travel ban for passenger and commercial vehicles in Erie County has been lifted in Grand Island, Tonawanda, Amherst, Clarence and Newstead.

Central Erie County and many Southtowns will remain under a full travel ban until further notice, and the Thruway remains closed to commercial traffic between Exit 46 and the Pennsylvania State Line. Drivers are advised to stay off the roads and avoid unnecessary travel.

There are no travel restrictions in Niagara County, with emergency officials urging drivers to use caution. "There are places in the county that got very little snow but others that got quite a bit. Plows from the various agencies are out trying to clean up what we have seen so far," a message from the Niagara County Emergency Services Facebook read late Sunday morning.

New Yorkers in Western New York are being urged to stay home throughout the duration of the storm. Travel in impacted areas could be dangerous at times throughout the evening due to blizzard-like conditions.

"Our crews have been working around the clock to keep the roads clear and New Yorkers safe, and I am grateful that the vast majority of New Yorkers heeded our ban and stayed off the road," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "As conditions are improving int eh north towns we are lifting the travel ban there, but if you do not have to travel today, stay home and let our crews continue to work. If you are in central Erie County and much of the Southtowns, continue to stay home."

Currently, there are 25,569 outages statewide, including 18,518 outages in the Mid-Hudson region, 90 in Western New York and 42 in the North Country. Utility crews have kept up with the level of power outages incurred to date, and remain on standby to restore any additional power outages if and when they occur.

The travel ban was lifted Sunday morning in the Towns of Collins, North Collins, Concord, Sardinia, Colden and Holland, as well as in the Villages of North Collins and Springville.

Heavy lake effect snow will continue off the eastern shores of both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario throughout Sunday, with snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches possible, as well as thundersnow in the heaviest parts of the bands. Winds will begin out of the southwest Sunday morning gusting at 35-40 mph and will increase to 40-50 mph this afternoon.

Tonight, snowfall rates are expected to remain at 2 to3 inches per hour in the heaviest bands, but wind gusts will diminish to 30 mph. In Western New York, the band is expected to oscillate near or just south of Buffalo for most of the night, while in the North Country, the band is expected to oscillate between the central Tug Hill plateau and Watertown. For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website at https://alerts.weather.gov .

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Hochul declares state of emergency, partial WNY travel ban ahead of blizzard-like conditions along Lake Erie & Lake Ontario

Travel ban for empty and tandem trucks/trailers to begin Saturday morning on thruway and other state roads in Western New York

√ Governor deploys 100 members of New York National Guard to WNY to support emergency response operations

√ People ‘Encouraged to enjoy Buffalo Bills’ game from home’; those planning to attend should pay close attention to weather and travel updates

√ New Yorkers can subscribe for emergency alerts here

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday declared a state of emergency ahead of potentially dangerous and life-threatening blizzard-like conditions forecasted to impact communities along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Areas adjacent to both lakes are forecast to be impacted by strong winds with gusts up to 70 mph that will likely cause power outages, freezing cold wind chills, and lake-effect snow with a foot or more possible in some areas. Blizzard-like, whiteout conditions are possible, especially Saturday night and much of Sunday, and wind chills are forecast to dip into the single digits on Saturday night and remain there through mid-week.

Lake-effect snow is expected for both lakes Erie and Ontario starting Saturday afternoon and continuing through Monday morning, with areas in Western New York and the Watertown area receiving up to a foot of snow. Travel in these areas will be difficult to impossible at times, and New Yorkers are urged to pay close attention to the weather and make plans accordingly to stay safe, especially those planning to attend Sunday’s Buffalo Bills’ game.

New Yorkers are being encouraged to enjoy the game from home; however, if they are planning to attend the game, they should travel with extreme caution and pay very close attention to weather and travel updates throughout the weekend.

“In anticipation of the upcoming storm, I have declared a state of emergency for Western New York, and my administration and I are monitoring the forecast, as well, to see whether that will be necessary for the North Country,” Hochul said. “During this time, it is important to check in on vulnerable friends and family, and do whatever you can to stay safe and warm.”

The state of emergency applies to the following counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego and Wyoming.

Travel Ban for Empty Trucks/Trailers and All Tandem Trucks

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, the New York State Department of Transportation and New York State Thruway Authority will be issuing a ban on empty trucks/trailers and all tandem trucks on the following routes:

• I-90 Exit 46 – PA line
• I-190 (south of the North Grand Island Bridge)
• Buffalo Skyway (NY 5)
• I-190 (north of the North Grand Island Bridge)
• Kensington Expressway (NY 33)
• I-86 in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus County

Precipitation is expected to begin late this afternoon with areas in New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson seeing rain, while areas to the north and west should see a period of wet snow or snow/sleet mix. Western New York and valley areas in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Capital regions should see snow accumulations before turning to rain. Elevations above 1,500 feet are forecast to receive heavy, wet snow tonight with snowfall rates up to 1 inch per hour at times and wind gusts up to 50 mph, which could lead to downed trees and branches and result in power outages.

In addition, damaging winds with gusts up to 65 mph are expected across Western New York into the Tug Hill, as well as parts of the Mid-Hudson, tonight into Saturday. Winds will be strong across the state with gusts reaching up to 55 mph in places, which will likely result in downed tree and branches – especially where trees are weakened from recent storms.

Western New York will be windy through the day Saturday into Saturday night with gusts up to 70 mph in Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Monroe counties, which will likely result in more widespread power outages.

A winter storm watch for heavy lake-effect snow has been issued by NWS Buffalo from Saturday afternoon through Monday morning for areas east of Lakes Erie and Ontario, including parts of Western New York and the North Country. A foot or more of snow possible in the most persistent lake effect bands, and blowing and drifting of snow is likely due to winds gusts up to 70 mph on Saturday afternoon and evening.

In addition, for New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson regions, multiple flood and coastal flood alerts have already been issued for several locations through Saturday. The ground is saturated from recent storms and any additional rainfall may lead to renewed river flooding throughout the day today.

The National Weather Service has issued several additional watches, warnings and advisories for this storm. For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website at  https://alerts.weather.gov.  New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert at  https://alert.ny.gov,  a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer.

See also >> State agencies prepare as strong winds & lake-effect snow may cause blizzard-like conditions this weekend

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Canada's Niagara region declares a state of emergency to prepare for an influx of eclipse viewers

N IAGARA FALLS, Ontario (AP) — Ontario’s Niagara Region has declared a state of emergency as it prepares to welcome up to a million visitors for the solar eclipse in early April.

The total solar eclipse on April 8 will be the first to touch the province since 1979, and Niagara Falls was declared by National Geographic to be one of the best places to see it.

The city is in the path of totality, where the moon will entirely block the sun's rays for a few minutes. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said earlier in March that he expects the most visitors his city has ever seen in a single day.

The regional municipality of Niagara is proactively invoking a state of emergency to prepare for the event. The declaration announced Thursday sets in motion some additional planning tools to prepare for the day, which could involve major traffic jams, heavier demands on emergency services and cell phone network overloads.

The eclipse will reach Mexico’s Pacific coast in the morning, cut diagonally across the United States from Texas to Maine, and exit in eastern Canada by late afternoon. Most of the rest of the continent will see a partial eclipse.