Left: An image taken from a NY Thruway traffic webcam near Exit 57 at 3:21 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6. For more Thruway webcams in the Buffalo region, see this page on the NY Thruway website.
The New York State Thruway will be partially shut down due to weather conditions today, for the second time in a week.
The Thruway between Exits 55 and 61 in western New York will be closed to commercial traffic starting at 3 p.m., and closed to all traffic starting at 8 p.m.
With the entire region in the icy grip of a polar vortex, and western New York expecting up to three feet of lake effect snow, the closure is a precautionary measure, said a statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a press release announcing the closure.
“In anticipation of major snowfall and, at times, zero visibility, I have directed the Thruway Authority to close down parts of the Thruway in Western New York for safety concerns,” said Governor Cuomo. “In addition, all New Yorkers in the area should exercise extreme caution if they have to leave their homes or travel anywhere. These precautions are done to ensure the safety of motorists, and I urge Western New Yorkers to monitor the weather and follow any instructions issued by emergency officials.
Update, 8:12 p.m.: I-81 is also closed between Exits 31 and 45, as of 8 p.m. A state of emergency has been declared for Western New York and the Tug Hill Plateau due to the snowstorm.
