Governor Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of emergency in eighteen New York counties yesterday as a strong winter storm continued to impact much of the state, dumping more than two feet of snow across a wide swath of the state. Specifically, the counties included in the declaration are Albany, Broome, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Tioga, Ulster and Washington Counties. A number of travel restrictions and speed limit reductions have also been implemented by state transportation agencies. New Yorkers being advised to continue monitoring their local weather reports for updates and avoid any unnecessary travel as driving conditions remain dangerous in many parts of the state.

"With a large portion of the state continuing to deal with heavy snowfall and extremely dangerous driving conditions, I am declaring a state of emergency in eighteen counties across the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, Capital and Mid-Hudson Regions," Cuomo said. "New Yorkers are no strangers to extreme winter weather and we will get through this as we always do. We have thousands of personnel and pieces of equipment engaged in operations throughout the state and will continue to do everything we can to help communities until the job is done. In the meantime, I am urging all New Yorkers to stay home and avoid any unnecessary travel so snow plows and road crews can clear roads as quickly and as safely as possible."

The speed limit on the Thruway from Exit 36 in Syracuse to the New York City line has been reduced to 45 mph, as well as on a number of other key interstate corridors including:

• I-88
• I-87 (from Exit 1 to Exit 23)
• I-90 (from Exit 24 to Berkshire Spur)
• I-787
• I-890
• Route 7 (from I-87 to Hoosick Street in Capital Region)
• I-81 (from PA line to Exit 9)
• I-84
• I-684
• All Mid-Hudson Parkways
• I-86 (I-390 to Tioga county line)
• NY 17/I-86 (Chemung county line to Orange county line)
• I-99

The bans on empty and tandem tractor trailers on the Thruway from Exit 24 in Albany to the New York City line, Interstate 84 from the Connecticut State Line to the Pennsylvania State Line, Interstate 684 from Interstate 84 to Interstate 287 and Route 17 from Interstate 84 to Interstate 81 have been lifted as of 11 a.m. Similar bans on all MTA Bridges and Tunnels will remain in place until 4 p.m.

During the overnight hours, more than two feet of snow fell across much of the state, with the Southern Tier experiencing the highest snowfall totals. Binghamton generally received 24 inches snow, while Albany received 16 inches, Kingston received 14 inches, and New York City receiving 8. The storm will continue to move out of the region today with the snow winding down by noon. Some areas are expected to receive another 4 to 8 inches of snow. Temperatures will range from the high teens to low 20s and hazardous travel conditions will persist with wind gusts topping 15 mph.

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