Weather worries regions in N.Y.

Erie County travel ban, tidal flooding in Hudson Valley

ALBANY — Different ends of New York state were experiencing — and expecting — weather-related problems, though the storm’s impact will be less severe in the Albany area, meteorologists said.

A state of emergency was declared in western New York and the Finger Lakes region. A full travel ban for passenger vehicles took effect 9 p.m. Saturday in Erie County and will be reassessed at 6 a.m. Sunday, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.

Commercial vehicles were affected in Erie County and the state Thruway from Exit 46 to the Pennsylvania state line. The NFL pushed the playoff game in Buffalo between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers from Sunday to Monday.

“Travel now, not later. Take alternative routes or else you have a severe risk of being pulled over by law enforcement,” Hochul said at a press conference Saturday, referring to the Erie County area. “We do not want you on the secondary roads once this storm begins.”

The Albany area is expected to only see patchy snow showers or brief squalls Sunday and Monday, leaving only a dusting in most spots, National Weather Service Meteorologist Brian Frugis said. Areas west and north of Albany will be more impacted, particularly in the western Adirondacks. A winter storm watch will be in effect from 1 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday in northern Herkimer County, according to the weather service.

In the Hudson Valley, the storm system was impacting water levels, leading to a flood warning and rail delays north of New York City for both Amtrak and Metro North’s Hudson line. The concern was in the area between the Croton-Harmon and Poughkeepsie stations.

High tides Saturday afternoon were higher than normal on the river near Poughkeepsie and Kingston due to the storm system, Frugis said. The river is expected to rise five feet, leading to a flood stage. Rain and snowmelt could be a secondary impact.

“It kind of creates almost a storm surge,” Frugis said. “The water levels are higher than they normally would be.”

Water levels will adjust at low tide Saturday evening, and should be at normal levels during high tide Sunday, Frugis said.