Governor Hochul has expanded the state of emergency statewide in response to damaging winds and lake effect snow affecting Western New York and other regions. High winds have caused significant power outages, with thousands left without electricity, and travel advisories are in place across multiple counties including Erie and the Capital Region. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for strong wind gusts, reaching up to 79 mph, and expects hazardous conditions as the winter storm settles in. Authorities have closed major routes, including the Skyway and several highways, to safeguard drivers amidst the deteriorating weather conditions. Utility companies are mobilizing crews to address outages as the storm continues to develop.