Two Upstate New York counties have issued travel bans as a major winter storm bears down on the region, with forecasters expecting up to two feet of snow.
Ulster County established a travel ban beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday and ending at noon on Monday. The ban prohibits all non-essential vehicular travel on public roadways within Ulster County, with only essential emergency vehicles and essential personnel permitted to travel.
Dutchess County issued a similar emergency order restricting travel from 5 a.m. Sunday through 5 p.m. Monday.
There are also statewide travel restrictions: Commercial vehicles are restricted to the right lane on state roads, and a ban is in place on long combination tandem vehicles.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said that 100 members of the New York National Guard have been activated to support storm response operations.
Widespread heavy snowfall is expected across New York, with accumulations totaling 12 to 24 inches in most regions. The storm is forecast to create dangerous travel conditions, slow snow-removal operations and impact emergency response.
Residents are urged to stay off the roads, allow plow crews to work safely and efficiently, and avoid putting themselves or first responders in danger.
The emergency orders in Dutchess and Ulster counties exempt essential personnel, including medical and health facility workers, law enforcement and public safety personnel, first responders, utility and public works crews, snow removal operations personnel and government workers involved in emergency operations.
