Snowstorm causing havoc on NNY roads
A powerful spring snowstorm has swept through Northern New York, leading to multiple accidents and hazardous driving conditions. As of Tuesday morning, at least eight vehicles have been involved in incidents ranging from rollovers to collisions with trees and utility poles. Emergency services have been actively responding to the chaos, which has resulted in power outages for hundreds of residents.
Accidents and Road Hazards Reported
The storm’s impact was felt early on Tuesday, with the Town of Watertown Fire Department receiving its first call at 6:41 a.m. for a Dodge Ram that had veered off Freeman Creek Road, resulting in airbag deployment. Just minutes later, a rollover accident was reported on Interstate 81 near Mile 146. By 7 a.m., two pickup trucks—a blue Ford F-150 and a red pickup—collided near Love’s Truck Stop, also deploying airbags.
Further incidents included a milk tanker blocking Route 3 near South Landing Road in Ellisburg and a white truck colliding with a car on Route 12 in Watertown. The storm continued to wreak havoc, with a white Jeep going off Kaiser Road and hitting trees around 8:08 a.m. Additionally, a pickup truck struck a utility pole on County Route 69 in Rodman, causing the pole to hang dangerously over the roadway. National Grid responded to the scene, reporting that three customers were without power due to the incident.
As of 9:30 a.m., National Grid was managing 18 outages affecting a total of 612 customers, with 154 of those outages occurring in Jefferson County. Power restoration is expected by 1 p.m. today. The storm’s heavy snow band, moving east at 55 mph, has created challenging conditions for drivers, prompting officials to advise caution on the roads.
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Weather Advisory and Safety Warnings
In addition to the road incidents, a Small Craft Advisory has been issued for eastern Lake Ontario nearshore waters, lasting until 4 p.m. Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Buffalo warns that hazardous conditions are expected for boaters, with northwest winds potentially reaching up to 30 knots and waves between 7 and 10 feet. These conditions pose significant risks for small vessels, increasing the likelihood of capsizing or damage.
Officials are urging inexperienced mariners, particularly those operating smaller boats, to refrain from navigating on Lake Ontario until conditions improve. The advisory covers nearshore waters from Sodus Bay to the St. Lawrence River, highlighting the urgency for safety on the water as well as on the roads.
