SARANAC LAKE — The National Weather Service office in Burlington has issued a winter storm warning for the Adirondack North Country region and Vermont, with snow starting Thursday night and continuing into the weekend.
Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state’s plans to prepare for the storm and offers safety tips for residents and visitors.
The winter storm warning is in effect from 10 p.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Saturday for the region, including the communities of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake.
In the Adirondacks, the National Weather Service is forecasting heavy snow, with total snow accumulations of 9 to 18 inches and some communities getting between 18 to 24 inches.
“Travel will be very difficult,” the warning states. “Hazardous conditions will impact the Friday morning and evening commutes. Power outages are possible due to heavy wet snow.”
Snowfall rates are expected to approach 1 to 2 inches per hour at times on Friday, with the snow tapering off to snow showers on Saturday.
“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,” the warning states. “Please allow extra time if travel is necessary.”
For more information from the National Weather Service visit http://weather.gov/btv/winter.
The winter storm warning covers most of New York state: all of northern New York, the capital region, central New York, south to the Catskills and Pennsylvania border, and west into parts of the Finger Lakes region.
On Thursday, the governor urged caution in advance of the storm.
“I encourage all New Yorkers to exercise caution and be ready for possible power outages and tough commutes on Thursday and Friday as snow and ice accumulate in eastern parts of upstate,” Hochul said in a press release. “Our emergency response agencies are well-prepared for this storm and will be working around the clock these next few days to keep New Yorkers safe.”
In its storm alert to customers Thursday morning, National Grid said it has increased staffing and is pre-positioning crews across central and eastern New York as the company prepares for the storm.
“Our crews are prepared to respond in the event service is disrupted to our customers,” National Grid’s alert stated. “We recommend keeping flashlights and extra batteries available and charging mobile devices so that you can stay connected in the event of an outage.”
In the North Country, National Grid supplies electricity to parts of Essex, Franklin, Clinton, Hamilton, Herkimer, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Jefferson, Saratoga and Warren counties.
NYSEG stated on its website Thursday that it is preparing for the winter storm and encourages customers to visit its Outage Central page on the website “to learn about storm readiness, and how you and your family can keep informed and stay safe.” An outage map is also located there. Outage Central is at https://www.nyseg.com/outages. NYSEG supplies electricity to parts of Essex, Franklin, Clinton and Hamilton counties.
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Travel tips
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The governor’s office offered the following travel tips for the winter storm.
Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:
¯ Do not drive unless necessary.
¯ Use caution on bridges as ice can form quicker than on roads.
¯ If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag.
¯ If you have a cell phone or other communications device such as a two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location.
¯ The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, make sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extra alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children. Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.
¯ It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time.
¯ Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Never attempt to pass a snowplow while its operating.
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Heavy exertion
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Heavy exertion, such as shoveling snow, clearing debris or pushing a car, increase the risk of a heart attack. To avoid problems:
¯ Stay warm, dress warm, and slow down when working outdoors.
¯ Take frequent rests to avoid overexertion.
¯ If you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain in your jaw radiating down your arm, stop what you are doing and seek help immediately.
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Power outages
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¯ Call your utility to determine area repair schedules.
¯ Turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored; leave one light on to indicate when power has been restored.
¯ If heat goes out during a winter storm, keep warm by closing off rooms you do not need.
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Heating safety
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¯ Use only safe sources of alternative heat such as a fireplace, small well-vented wood or coal stove or portable space heaters.
¯ Always follow manufacturer’s instructions.
¯ When using alternative heat sources such as a fireplace, wood stove, etc. always make sure you have proper ventilation.
¯ Keep curtains, towels, and potholders away from hot surfaces.
¯ Have a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors and make sure they work.
¯ If you use kerosene heaters to supplement your regular heating fuel, or as an emergency source of heat, follow these safety tips:
¯ Follow the manufacturers’ instructions.
¯ Use only the correct fuel for your unit.
¯ Refuel outdoors only and only when the unit is cool.
¯ Keep the heater at least three feet away from furniture and other flammable objects.
¯ When using the heater, use fire safeguards and ventilate properly.
For more safety tips, visit https://dhses.ny.gov/safety.
