(WXXI News & AP) Strong winds, some lake effect snow and bitterly cold weather continue in parts of Western NY and the Finger Lakes.
Blowing snow from lake-effect storms has closed a nearly 60-mile stretch of the westbound lanes of the state Thruway in western New York.
The Thruway Authority said on Wednesday afternoon it shut down Interstate 90 from Exit 57 at Hamburg to Exit 61 at Ripley, on the Pennsylvania border 60 miles southwest of Buffalo. The eastbound lanes remained open.
The agency says multiple accidents have been reported in the westbound lanes between Exit 57 and Exit 60 at Westfield. Westbound traffic is being diverted off the highway at Exit 57.
The National Weather Service says the latest round of lake-effect storms has dumped up to 18 inches on areas near Lake Erie's eastern shore.
In central New York, thousands of students from the Syracuse area to the Mohawk Valley have a snow day because of lake-effect storms from Lake Ontario.
The National Weather Service has now canceled a Lake Snow Advisory for Monroe County.
Most areas in and around Rochester just saw a dusting early Wed. morning.
Westerly winds with gusts up to 40mph could create travel problems. The high temp on Wednesday will be around 20, with wind chills well below that.
There are lake snow warnings in effect for some other counties including Wayne, Wyoming, and Erie.
In Wayne County, Sodus and North Rose Wolcott schools were among schools closed on Wednesday.
