A range of travel bans have been lifted across greater Buffalo, but extreme wind chills and lingering snows will persist in the southtowns through Thursday evening.
A wind chill warning and a winter storm warning remains in Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming counties until Thursday evening.
Route 400 was shut down on its entire length early Thursday morning because of severe icy conditions.
Other road closures include:
- Route 219 from Peters Rd in Cattaraugus County to the NYS Thruway I-90.
- Route 5 From Rogers Road in Hamburg to Delaware Ave. in Buffalo- including the Skyway
- Abbott Road between Route 20 and 20A
A travel advisory in Erie County recommends no uncessary travel.
Earlier travel bans in several places including Alden, Elma, Hamburg, Lackwanna, Marilla, and Orchard Park, expired Thursday morning. A travel ban in the City of Buffalo was lifted at 7 a.m. Thursday to allow residents to move stranded cars.
Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash announced Tuesday afternoon that classes will be canceled for a third consecutive day Friday. All weekend activities are also canceled.
A wind chill warning remains in effect for Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Wyoming and Genesee counties until 6 p.m. Thursday, with the possibility of wind chills as low as 30 degrees below zero.
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The winter storm warning remains in those areas until 7 a.m. Friday, with continued Lake Effect snow bands that could bring another foot of snow in the persistent snow areas.
"The heaviest snows will stay south of the city. We are probably looking at 3 to 5 (inches) in the city, 2 to 3 (inches) in the city, " says Bob Hamilton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Buffalo office.
Two distinct lake effect snow bands that were hovering over the southtowns, and near Cattaraugus Creek are expected to stay there for much of Thursday morning before encroaching on the City of Buffalo and its immediate suburbs after drive time.
Heavy snow will fall in relatively narrow bands, that will settle over the southtowns again Thursday evening before breaking up overnight.
