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Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz » ERIE COUNTY, CITY OF BUFFALO UPDATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AS OF SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

ERIE COUNTY, CITY OF BUFFALO UPDATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AS OF SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Modified: November 19, 2022 10:50am

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ERIE COUNTY, NY—Effective immediately (Saturday, November 19 at 6:30 a.m.), the city of Buffalo and Erie County are implementing a Travel Ban for the entire city of Buffalo based on current and expected weather and road conditions.

This updated map shows the current travel restrictions for Erie County, with red-shaded areas having a Travel Ban and yellow-shaded areas having a Travel Advisory.

County and city officials are urging residents to follow these travel restrictions to prevent additional blocked roads from vehicle accidents or stranded vehicles, and to allow snow removal crews, tow trucks and first responders to do their work.

Link to updated map .

Travel ban lifted in Erie County as road conditions improve, warmer weather settles in

A travel ban has been lifted in New York’s Erie County, days after it was put into place as a deadly blizzard swept across the region, at times reducing visibility to zero.

The ban, which was implemented Friday, expired at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, officials said.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told reporters Wednesday night that the roads were in good enough condition to lift the ban.

“It has been 6 days,” Brown said. “Some people have not been able to restock groceries, to restock medications, to get to medical appointments, and being able to lift the travel ban safely now will allow people to do those important things.”

Most streets in the city are passable, Brown said, and he expected crews to have made a pass down the center of every residential street by the end of the night.

Though the ban has been lifted, a travel advisory was in place for Erie County as cleanup continues and a county-wide state of emergency remained. Brown asked people to be cautious and avoid driving unless necessary.

More than 450 pieces of equipment were on Buffalo streets plowing and hauling snow, and many traffic signals were still not working, he said.

The storm dumped upwards of 20 inches of snow in parts of New York — including nearly 52 inches at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

The powerful storm plunged much of the United States into a deep freeze, creating life-threatening conditions as more than 1 million homes and businesses were left in the dark, and wreaking havoc on flight schedules during the busy holiday travel week.

At least 76 people died in the storm, according to an NBC News tally. Erie County accounted for 37 of the deaths, 29 of which were in Buffalo.

Weather-related deaths were also reported in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Illinois and Vermont.

In Buffalo, officials said it was possible the number could rise.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said Wednesday night that police have cleared the backlog of calls relating to welfare checks, stranded motorists and reports of bodies.

Search and rescue teams were returning Thursday to check locations where bodies had been reported but could not be confirmed — either because of the amount of snow or the vagueness of location, Gramaglia said.

"We believe there were some credible 911 calls that contained more information ... low single digit numbers, that's again why we're going to concentrate our efforts on hitting those areas," he told reporters.

In Erie County, 17 of the people who died in the blizzard were found outside and four were in a vehicle , according to County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

Several people died because of a delay receiving emergency services or from cardiac events related to shoveling or blowing snow. Of the deaths, nine were people who died because they had no heat in their homes, he said.

Poloncarz said in a tweet Wednesday night that 500 National Guard members have conducted nearly 850 welfare checks on residents who had longterm power outages.

Power was being restored to New York, and by early Thursday, about 400 customers in the state were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us .

In Buffalo, where more than 20,000 customers were without power at one point during the storm, only three had no electricity Wednesday night, according to Brown, the mayor.

On Wednesday, city offices, facilities and roadways opened, as temperatures rose into the 40s across parts of New York.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which has been closed since Friday , reopened Wednesday.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday night that all major state highways in western New York, including the Erie County portion of Interstate 190 and several state routes, would reopen at midnight.

“I am extremely grateful to all the highway maintenance workers, first responders and emergency service staff who continue to work tirelessly to help their fellow New Yorkers," Hochul said in a statement .   

The temperature is expected to continue climbing to the low-50s in the Buffalo region by Friday, and will help melt the accumulated snow, according to the National Weather Service .

Claire Cardona is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital.

Travel ban still in effect for parts of Erie County

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A travel ban remains in effect for a number of towns in Erie County, as the lake-effect snow event rages on.

UPDATE: As of Sunday, the majority of towns in Erie County are no longer under a travel ban, and instead are under travel advisories.

pic.twitter.com/FW3HwtnimC — Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) November 20, 2022

As of 9 p.m., the following areas are still under a travel ban or advisory in Erie County.

These are the up to date travel bans and advisories as of 9pm pic.twitter.com/6MwXOnNmQb — Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) November 19, 2022

All of Erie County, the city of Buffalo, the city of Lackawanna and the following towns and villages continue to have a state of emergency in effect:

There are State of Emergency declarations in the following municipalities pic.twitter.com/rj8R0joSQf — Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) November 19, 2022

In a late evening press conference Friday night, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz continued to remind residents of the travel ban, noting that it is illegal to force employees to work in areas under a ban.

Reminder to all employers: if your business is in a driving ban area or your employees are located in a driving ban area, it is illegal to make them come into work. — Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) November 19, 2022

Over 300 tickets have been written by law enforcement, due to abandoned cars being left behind on streets and highways.

Poloncarz urged motorists to refrain from leaving their vehicles behind as it presents a blockade to ambulances and tow trucks attempting to make their way toward emergencies.

Abandoned, towed vehicles are currently going to the McKinley Mall lot.

A number of emergency shelters and warming centers are open, including:

• 4540 Southwestern Blvd, Hamburg, NY
• 4112 Big Tree Rd, Hamburg, NY
• 8298 Erie Rd, Angola, NY
• 2049 George Urban Blvd, Depew, NY

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Near whiteout conditions in Buffalo force travel ban, NFL playoff game postponement

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A travel ban remains in effect for Erie County, as near whiteout conditions pound Buffalo and western New York this weekend.

Severe lake effect snow is impacting the region, which prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul to announce the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game to be rescheduled from Sunday to Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Hochul took to X , formerly Twitter, on Saturday and noted that the decision was made after speaking with emergency response teams, Bills leadership and the NFL.

Residents of the county that includes Buffalo were told to stay off the roads starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, with the forecast calling for 1 to 2 feet or more of snow and winds gusting as high as 65 mph.

"It will not be safe to be out on the roads tonight," Hochul said Saturday, adding that the travel ban will allow crews to try stay on top of snow removal.

Hochul said the "bullseye" of the storm is expected to hit Orchard Park, where the Bills was scheduled to play Sunday.

A state of emergency was issued Friday by the governor ahead of the potentially life-threatening conditions in the region.

The intense lake-effect snow during this storm is expected to amount to 1-3 feet.

RELATED: Winter storm to bring more rain, flooding, and then a freeze to NYC, Tri-State

The same winter storm dumped heavy snow across the Plains and Midwest, ushering in some of the coldest air of the season.

The cold was the biggest concern in the Dakotas. It was 11 degrees below zero F (minus 24 C) in Bismarck, North Dakota, on Friday morning, and forecasters warned the weekend would get even worse. It could reach 20 below F (minus 29 C) by early Sunday.

Near-record cold in Kansas City made for a frigid NFL playoff game Saturday night between the Chiefs and Miami. The game time temperature was 7 below zero with a wind chill of 27 below.

The University of Kansas Health System set up a clinic and several first aid stations at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Road Closures And Travel Bans Update In Western New York

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If you’re headed to work this morning, you may be wondering if you are able to take the 219, and the answer is a bit complicated. 

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On Monday morning, the Erie County Commissioner of Emergency Services, Dan Neaverth Jr., held a press conference, clarifying the current travel bans and travel advisories as we head into the work week. 

You can watch the full press conference below. 

Many people are wondering about one road in particular: the 219. 

According to Dan Neaverth Jr. and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Route 219 thruway to Springville opened at 12 AM on Monday. 

However, that does not mean you will be able to get onto the road. 

Last week, we found out that the troopers and plow operators have to coordinate who opens the barrier via key. 

Brad Walters from Lancaster told us that those arm barriers “are actually chained and padlocked in the up position, [and] the thruway troopers and DOT plows have the keys to drop them manually and relook them in place.”

Soon, those arm barriers will be opened, but as of 6:25 AM on Monday, many travelers reported that those arm barriers are still in the locked position, preventing any driver from merging onto the 219.

Other travel bans and advisories to be aware of are listed below. 

Travel Advisories:

• West Seneca
• Orchard Park

Travel Bans:

• South Buffalo (South of Williams St.)

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Travel Ban Now In Effect For Parts Of Buffalo

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As Buffalo gets pummeled by a second snowstorm this week, a travel ban has gone into effect for parts of the city. Officials just sent out a message to warn some residents not to drive.

UPDATE: As of Thursday, January 18, 2024, the travel ban has been lifted. However, a travel advisory still remains in effect.

The Travel Ban south of Broadway will be lifted at 8am this morning. A travel advisory will remain in place. A reminder that City Hall is closed today. ~ Mayor Byron Brown

During the first snowstorm Governor Hochul said that 300 tickets were issued to people who were caught driving on the I-90 during the travel ban.

The Skyway has been closed in both directions as of a message sent out by the City around 7:30 this morning. There is a travel advisory still in effect for parts of the city that are not subject to the travel ban. The city warns residents to avoid any unnecessary travel. If you do have to travel, as an essential employee or for an emergency, please use caution.

Travel Ban Issued For South Buffalo

Travel in South Buffalo is not permitted at the current time. A travel ban message was issued at approximately 8:23 am. Driving is prohibited south of Broadway, including Kaisertown, Lovejoy, and Old First Ward due to heavy snowfall and lack of visibility. Mayor Byron Brown also tweeted about the driving ban,

A Driving Ban is now in effect in the City of Buffalo ONLY in areas South of Broadway which includes South Buffalo, Kaisertown, Lovejoy & Old First Ward. The snowband is expected to move north through the City as the day goes on.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo warns a lake effect snow band is behind the heavy snowfall today,

A heavy lake effect snow band will be across the Buffalo metro area today. The band will meander northward to southern Niagara County this afternoon, then will shift back southward late this afternoon and evening. Expect near whiteout conditions within the heavy snow band.

5 Vehicles That Don't Belong On The Roads In A Snowstorm

Gallery Credit: Clay Moden

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Flocking To

Thailand’s Chiang Rai, Where Artists Go to Find Peace

Four insiders on where to stay, eat “micro-seasonal” dishes and shop for handmade pottery and textiles.

By Eric Wilson

T’s monthly travel series, Flocking To , highlights places you might already have on your wish list, sharing tips from frequent visitors and locals alike. Sign up here to find us in your inbox once a month, along with our weekly roundup of cultural recommendations, monthly beauty guides and the latest stories from our print issues. Have a question? You can always reach us at [email protected] .

Travelers to the northern provinces of Thailand have long been drawn by two things — elephant camps and campy temples. The most famous examples of each are within or near the 13th-century city of Chiang Rai, where the Wat Rong Khun, or White Temple, stands as an artist’s parable of the world’s ills, as depicted in the form of pop culture villains and other icons of kitsch. (If crossing a sea of grasping arms at the entrance doesn’t terrify you, beware the Freddy Krueger-themed hanging planters.) Chiang Rai is also where the Emerald Buddha, a national treasure now housed in Bangkok’s Grand Palace, was reportedly discovered in 1434. According to legend, a bolt of lightning cracked the stupa in which it had been hidden years prior.

Chiang Rai — the city shares its name with the surrounding province — has gained a reputation as something of a tourist trap, thanks to the tour buses that ferry visitors from the White Temple to the equally gaudy Blue Temple and then to the very bleak Black House (which the artist Thawan Duchanee, who died in 2014, decorated with elephant skulls and antlers and a table runner made of snakeskin). But the city, having played second fiddle to the luxe-boho paradise of Chiang Mai ever since King Mang Rai moved the capital of the Lanna Kingdom — which ruled over most of what is now northern Thailand — to the “new city” in 1296, has more recently emerged as an unhurried haven for serious artists and other creative professionals seeking to escape the heat and sprawl of Bangkok.

The third edition of Thailand’s roaming Biennale, which brought dozens of international and Thai artists to Chiang Rai this past winter and spring, shed light on an often-overlooked aspect of the city — its long history as a cultural crossroads. Owing both to its proximity to Laos and Myanmar and, to some degree, the Golden Triangle’s uncomfortable past as a center of the global drug trade, Chiang Rai has been the site of intermingling cultures for centuries.

“The constant migration of people of different races and religions make this an interesting place both geographically and culturally,” says the Chiang Rai-born artist and gallerist Angkrit Ajchariyasophon. In 2023, Chiang Rai was also recognized by UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network for its sustainable architecture design and landscapes. “My house is near the city’s oldest Christian church, close to an Islamic mosque and a Buddhist temple off the same road,” says Ajchariyasophon. “This is where I grew up and learned about cultural diversity, which I find wonderful.”

Today, multigenerational family-run restaurants featuring traditional Thai, Chinese and Myanmarese specialties likewise share a slow-movement sensibility with hipster cafes that serve coffee from beans grown on local farms, and stylish home stays that incorporate teak wood scavenged from nearby forests. Here, Ajchariyasophon and other Chiang Rai enthusiasts offer their recommendations on where to stay, eat, shop and sightsee in and around the city.

The Insiders

The artist Angkrit Ajchariyasophon has organized shows for the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre and the Singapore Biennale and runs an artists’ studio in Suphanburi.

Born in Chiang Rai, the curator Gridthiya Gaweewong is the founder of the arts organization Project 304 and the artistic director of the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok. She served as one of the artistic directors of the 2023 Thailand Biennale.

The Bangkok-born chef Rose Chalalai Singh , who visits Chiang Rai annually, has lived for 15 years in Paris, where she runs a private dining space, Rose Kitchen.

Originally from Bangkok, Chomwan Weeraworawit founded the creative consultancy Mysterious Ordinary, based in the city, in 2010, and served as a co-curator of the 2022 Bangkok Art Biennale. With her husband, the designer Philip Huang, she co-founded the fashion label bearing his name, which collaborates with textile artisans in northeast Thailand.

Illustrations by Richard Pedaline

“ The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa features balconies with views of the Kok River, which brighten up during the rainy season. The sight of the orange river sediment moving through the deep blue edges and fluffy white clouds creates a truly peaceful atmosphere.” (From about $150 a night) — Angkrit Ajchariyasophon

“ The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle looks like Hemingway and Indiana Jones met in the wrong place. The decoration is impossible, and it’s bloody expensive. But the food is great and the location is the most beautiful in all of Chiang Rai. They have the river, the elephant camp — it’s great.” (From about $2,530 a night) — Rose Chalalai Singh

“The Sooknirund is in the middle of town and very charming. A lot of my artist friends stay there because they can walk to Xibiao , the best breakfast restaurant in the province. They make their own yogurt and bake an amazing milk bun filled with cinnamon, and they have a really good masala chai. I also stay at Le Méridien when I’m doing production. It’s on the Kok River, about a 10-minute drive from the city, so you can’t really walk anywhere. But the view is stunning and there’s a cluster of restaurants nearby. Pa Sak Tong , whose name means ‘golden teak forest,’ is a private estate built by an art collector who rents it out to one party at a time. It feels like you’re walking into a lush, timeless home, with art throughout the property. There are two villas on the property; one sleeps 12, the other sleeps 18.” (The Sooknirund Hotel, from about $90 a night; Le Méridien, rates from about $130 a night; Pa Sak Tong, from about $1,870 a night) — Chomwan Weeraworawit

Eat and Drink

“A few months ago, I drove out of town at sunset to Khun Korn Waterfall and stopped at a restaurant called Sangkaew tea.food local culture . It consists of two small wooden houses with views of rice fields and a stream flowing from the waterfall. The restaurant, run by the Shan ethnic community from Myanmar, serves a menu that should not be missed. The main dishes, side dishes and desserts are served as a set, concluding with hot herbal tea. This meal made for an unforgettable day.” — A.A.

“ Nua Wuo Ros Yiam [on the other side of the street from the Sooknirund hotel] has the best beef noodles. Khao Tom Mee Na , where the signature dish is fried wood-ear mushrooms with egg, serves one of the best street-food dinners. Yod Aroy [about a half mile south on the main road from Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1] is also a very good local place for dinner. Order the beef with oyster sauce, and seafood.

“ Ba(r)nana is a small cocktail bar in Chiang Saen, about an hour’s drive from Chiang Rai, run by a funky cocktail master who moved back home after living in Bangkok. He uses local ingredients to make special drinks. Try his signature elixir, a variation on a Bloody Mary using the same chiles as in larb, or whatever he’s serving that day.” — Gridthiya Gaweewong

“Chiang Rai food involves lots of aromatics, things like pork sausage made with lemongrass, cumin and herbs, and rice noodles with spicy curry. There are a lot of wild jungle mushrooms, vegetables and other things that you don’t find in the south. [Chiang Rai] is close to China, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, so you’ll find they have a lot of influence from those areas. There’s a late-night place called Khao Tom Bua that has amazing food by a lady named Bua. I had pork belly that was wok sautéed, fried vegetables, a rice soup that’s something like congee and then fried fish and the fermented fish salad, which is really good.

“There’s also a new generation doing a lot of interesting things. I really like Vinyl & Wine for natural wines and jazz, soul, and funk music, and Le Petit Café for wine and live jazz.” — R.C.S.

“ Larb Sanam Keela and Lab Pa Lai are not to be missed for northern dishes. ‘Larb’ is the English spelling for a typical ground-meat dish, but we don’t spell it with an ‘r.’ No one can agree what to call it on Google. I also love Saharodh for traditional pork-blood soup if one does not have two hours to spend at Xibiao.

Locus Native Food Lab at Pa Sak Tong is a long experience, like three hours, but the chef’s approach is very interesting. He deconstructs and dives into the history of northern Thai food and its micro-seasonality.” — C.W.

“Chiang Saen is the ancient center of Chiang Rai province, where you’re inside these historical ruins and archaeological sites with evidence of civilizations that go back to the start of the Iron Age. The Athita hotel is a precious place that was built next to the ruin of a stupa and reimagined as a hidden court made of teak wood. The rooms are very minimal, and it has a wonderful gift shop created by one of the co-founders. Local designers collaborate on the selection of textiles from remote hillside tribes. The textiles of the area are often embroidered and typically feature motifs of things seen in real life — buffalo and pastoral scenes. “ Sawanbondin Tea House & Experience also has the most spectacular range of artisanal teas, organic rice, coffee and a rotating selection of paintings by local artists. It’s on a beautiful plot of land with an outdoor kiln. If you don’t have much time, they’ll give you a takeaway container to store your tea bag in, because they believe each one should be used at least three times. They also have homemade ice cream. I like butterfly pea macadamia nut — it’s blue, and so pretty.” — C.W.

“When in Chiang Rai, you must visit Doy Din Dang Pottery . (The name is spelled Ban Doi Din Daeng, meaning red clay hills.) The handmade ceramics, created by the great artist Somluk Pantiboon, are glazed with natural colors and can’t be found elsewhere in Thailand. A must-buy souvenir is a teacup made from Chiang Rai clay, glazed with rice straw ashes, to be used with Oolong tea leaves from Doi Mae Salong, a picturesque village near the border of Myanmar.” — A.A.

“It’s incredible how many coffee shops there are now since the city has become bigger. I really like Akha Hill , which uses local beans, as they grow a lot of tea and coffee in that area. They roast them right there.” — R.C.S.

“Chiang Rai has a community of over 300 artists organized under the Chiang Rai Artists Association, also known as Art Bridge Chiang Rai , which was established 10 years ago and today operates from the Chiang Rai Contemporary Art Museum . Most artists work in modern art, neo-traditional Thai art and crafts such as wood carving and bamboo weaving. After the Biennale, we initiated a project to build a creative design center and a Small and Medium Art Spaces workshop at the museum.

“I also like the small museum inside Wat Phra Kaew called the Hongluang Saengkaew Museum . You can see a collection of small, intricately arranged items that tell amazing stories. Most of the objects displayed were donated by people from Chiang Rai Province, highlighting the faith and beliefs of ordinary people. These include dozens of small wooden Buddhas, given by couples who want to have children. This is a common tradition in Northern Thailand.” — A.A.

“The Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park has one of the best collections of flora and Lanna architecture and artifacts in the north of Thailand. You can find both old and new art and crafts here. A younger generation of artists are more experimental, critical and aware of the historical, sociopolitical context of Chiang Rai in relationship with the state and beyond.

“The Chiang Saen National Museum is a small museum on the Thailand-Laos border near the Mekong River. It houses the most significant art objects and artifacts from the ancient Kingdom of Lanna since the 13th century. Wat Pa Sak is one of the most important temples in Chiang Rai. It features several images of the Buddha. The main one [standing on a lotus flower with his arms at his sides] is particularly striking.” — G.G.

“The White Temple is funny to see, but my preference is for the House of Opium museum. It explains the history of Chiang Rai through its geography and how its location relates to wars between the tribes, the government and the drug trade.” — R.C.S.

Practical Matters

“Every year, Chiang Rai faces forest fires during March and April, leading to severe air pollution. I’m currently working on ‘Art on Fire,’ a project that involves fund-raising to support a volunteer forest fire agency. It will exhibit at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center in March 2025.” — A.A.

“All the temples are best to see first thing in the morning, before it’s scorching hot. From 11 a.m. onward, there are hordes of tourists, even at the meditation center. But it’s so peaceful in the morning. If you’re planning to see everything, book a driver for the full day.” — C.W.

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