McMahon: Onondaga County could see ‘20 to 30 inches of snow’; travel advisory begins tonight

Syracuse, NY — Parts of Onondaga County could see “20 to 30 inches of snow” late Monday through Tuesday afternoon, County Executive Ryan McMahon said Monday afternoon.

McMahon said he will issue a travel advisory later Monday.

If snow falls faster than one to two inches per hour, county snowplows won’t be able to keep up even when working at full capacity, McMahon said.

In that event, McMahon said he would issue a “no unnecessary travel” declaration. That could happen overnight, he predicted.

The worst-case scenario is an “all-out travel ban,” McMahon said.

The lake-effect snow is expected to begin falling heavy around 1 a.m. overnight and continue until 1 p.m. Tuesday. Winds could reach 50 to 60 mph, McMahon said.

The county will partially activate its emergency operations center, intended to streamline communication between county, city, state and local officials.

All county plows will be operating, McMahon said. The city of Syracuse will have all its plows out, too.

McMahon said that county plows are too big to go down city side streets. If the city asked for help with main arteries, the county would lend a hand, he said.