Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday evening declared a state of emergency ahead of threats of lake-effect snow slated to impact parts of the state over the next few days.

State officials say portions of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, Central New York and the North Country are set to receive multiple feet of lake-effect snow. 

Officials also say areas east of Lakes Erie and Ontario could see two-to-three feet of snow and strong wind gusts of 30-45 mph starting Wednesday night through Saturday. 

Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Wyoming and contiguous counties are under the state of emergency.

“As winter weather bears down on our State, I am declaring a State of Emergency so our communities have the resources they need to stay safe,” Hochul said in a statement. “We are deploying resources and working alongside our partners in government as we prepare for every possibility — I encourage all New Yorkers to stay alert, stay off the roads if possible, and keep in contact with family and friends as we move through the next 48 hours.” 

The governor's office says a tandem and empty tractor-trailer ban has been implemented by the Thruway Authority in both directions on the Thruway (I-90) from Exit 53 (Buffalo (Downtown) - Canada - Niagara Falls - I-190) west to the Pennsylvania state line. The Department of Transportation is also issuing a tandem and empty trailer ban beginning Wednesday at midnight for NY Route 5 from NY 179 to I-190 (Erie County), US 219 from I-90 to I-86 (Erie and Cattaraugus counties), NY Route 400 from I-90 to NY 16 (Erie County) and I-86 from US 219 to PA Line (Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties).

State officials are also warning of strong winds and heavy rain in the eastern parts of the state, including the Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island, where wind gusts of up to 50 mph and rain could lead to power outages and localized flash flooding.

The New York State Department of Transportation says it has the following assets available to assist:

• 1,623 large plow trucks
• 336 large loaders
• 152 medium-duty plows
• 52 tow plows
• 36 large snow blowers
• 19 graders
• 37 tracked excavators
• 50 loader grapple attachments
• 29 traffic signal trucks
• 12 tree crew bucket trucks

The DOT is also deploying five plow trucks, four snow blowers, two graders and an additional 28 staff — including 20 plow truck operators, four supervisors, and four equipment operator instructors — to the North Country and Western New York.