Travel advisory issued as snow continues in Jefferson, Lewis counties

Jonathon Wheeler, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
·2 min read

Jan. 17—WATERTOWN — A travel advisory has been put in place by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office due to lake effect snow settling over the area.

The lake effect snow warning issued by the National Weather Service lasts until 7 p.m. Thursday for the Eastern Lake Ontario region. Wind gusts as high as 40 mph are predicted and snow accumulations of two to three feet could fall on the Tug Hill plateau.

"If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities," the advisory reads.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo was predicting that the band was going to drop south with a snowfall rate of 2 to 4 inches an hour as it drops south through Watertown before beginning to focus on northern parts of Tug Hill.

One to two feet of snow on the Tug Hill was expected Wednesday night.

The band is projected to stay on southern Jefferson and Lewis counties with snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches an hour. Another 2 to 3 feet are expected in southern Jefferson County through Thursday.

A news release from the city of Watertown states that Department of Public Works crews are focusing efforts on main streets and roads with hills with side streets next.

They say that roads are passable, but slippery.

CitiBus routes were suspended Wednesday and routes were expected to complete their runs and be back at the transfer station by 12:55 p.m. Paratransit operations were to continue until everyone is returned home.

The zoning board of appeals meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday was rescheduled to Jan. 24.

The Flower Memorial Library closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday and all Wednesday events were canceled.

"The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority. We urge everyone to avoid unnecessary travel and stay updated on the latest information," Mayor Sarah V. Compo Pierce said in a news release.

Jefferson County Highway Superintendent James Lawrence Jr. said Wednesday afternoon that they are continuing to go around the county with their snowplows and municipalities are doing the same thing.

"It's just a matter of continuing to rotate trucks around on all the roads that we have to address," he said.

The most snow they saw was from Adams to Watertown. "But that band continues to move," he said.

Lawrence said they need to make sure traffic can move for emergency vehicles.

"Our public servants do a great job at that," he said.

Jefferson County Director of Emergency Management Joseph D. Plummer said there were no major crashes as of around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

There will be "a substantial warm up" next week, according to the National Weather Service. AccuWeather predicts the high, starting on Monday next week, will remain above freezing until the next Monday, Jan. 29.