Niagara Region faces major snowfall with near-zero visibility, New York in state of emergency

Snow that began falling Thursday evening in the Niagara Region is expected to continue all weekend and result in a "prolonged period of significant lake effect snow squalls off Lake Erie," Environment Canada says.

The weather agency issued a snow squall watchearly Friday for Niagara Falls, Welland andSouthern Niagara Region. The warning says "local snowfall amounts of 30 to 60 cm for the Fort Erie area" are on their way.

Environment Canada warns travellers that"visibilities may be reduced to near zero in heavy snow and local blowing snow."

New York's governor has also declared a state of emergency forseveral countiesin anticipation of a weekend storm.

"The most significant snowfall is expected Thursday and Friday, with accumulations of up to four feet [1.2 metres] of snow possible in the Buffalo area,"Gov. Kathy Hochulsaid on Thursday.

Travel advisory in effect in Buffalo area

The U.S. National Weather Service issued a "lake effect snow warning"early Fridaythat remains in place until 1 a.m. ET Saturday. A winter storm watch is in effect from Saturday evening until Sunday afternoon. Between 60 and 120 centimetresof snow are expected this weekend in southern Erie County. The Weather Prediction Centerdescribed it as a "potentially historic snowfall for Buffalo, N.Y."

A travel advisory went intoeffectat 8 a.m. Friday for Buffalo and the towns of Brant, Colden, Collins, Concord, Holland, North Collins and Sardinia, according to Erie County'sCounty executiveMark C. Poloncarz.

In a release, he said,"The city of Tonawanda and the towns of Amherst, Clarence, Newstead and Grand Island were shifted to a travel advisory as of 6 a.m. this morning."

He told CBC News, "If things go well, even if we get a lot of snow, hopefully we'll be able to clean it up and get [it] out of here, so that normal business is occurring on Monday. But we'll just have to wait and see. We'll see what Mother Nature throws at us."

A travel ban remains in effect for the remainder of Erie County.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Friday reportedmany delays and cancellations among both arrivals and departures.

A day earlier, the National Football League announced that the Bills game in Buffalo against the Cleveland Browns would be moved to Detroit in anticipation of the snowstorm.

On the Canadian side of the border, the first winter storm of the season is expected to hitFort Erie hardest.

Environment Canada saidpeople should make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight.

Schoolsopen in Fort Erie, across Niagara Region

Public schools in Niagara are open Friday.

• The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) said transportation for Fort Erie schools iscancelled.Transportation is cancelled for Garrison Road, John Brant, Peace Bridge, Stevensvilleand Greater Fort Erie Secondary School. If your child is staying home, the board asks that you please report their absence.
• Catholic schools are open but student transportation is cancelled for schools in Fort Erie.

Organizers of the Fort Erie Santa Claus parade, which was set for Saturday, sent a note to participants Thursdaysaying the event has been cancelled, as recommended by the town's roads department.

"They are not able to accommodate a safe environment for the roads and patrons," the note read."There are no available weekends to reschedule the parade due to availability of bands/entertainment due to other scheduled parades/events."

Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop told CBC on Thursday afternoon that it could take three or four days to clear the city, depending on the severity of the storm, but that's something the town has managed many times before.

"We want to make sure that residents appreciate that if we do get the storm that's anticipated, that they don't try to go places that they don't need to be because it's safer to make sure that you're at home, you've got the resources that you need and that your family is safe," Redekop said.