Wind Chill Advisory in effect until late Friday morning; frigid temperatures and snow expected to make travel difficult in some places...
Chautauqua County received a "quick shot" of 2 to 3 inches of snow this morning... but, it's going to be blowing around and the temperatures will drop dramatically by late this afternoon. That from Forecaster Bill Hibbert with the National Weather Service in Buffalo... who says the snow came in advance of a cold front bringing more frigid, Arctic air to the region. The Weather Service ended a Winter Weather Advisory at Noon... but, Hibbert says we'll remain under a Wind Chill Advisory through late Friday morning. Hibbert says the cold front has brought colder air and strong winds to the area... and, that will drop overnight wind chills to around minus-20. While wind chills overnight and early Friday morning will reach 20-below zero in much of the county... Hibbert says air temperatures will also fall to about minus-6 early Friday. On Friday we'll see little relief with highs in the mid-teens... but, wind chills remaining about 15-below zero. Hibbert says there will be some relief by Saturday when temperatures get into the low to mid-30s. He says our overnight low tonight may set a record for Feb. 28. He says the all-time record low at the Buffalo Airport is minus-4... and, temperatures will be close to that.
Part of Route 5 in Silver Creek closed this late afternoon due to 11-car accident that includes a Sheriff's Dept. patrol car...
A major crash involving 11-vehicles has closed down a portion of Route 5 from Silver Creek westward to Center Road in the Town of Sheridan. The crash occurred around Noon today in an area near St. Columban's. Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace confirms that a Sheriff's Department patrol car was among the vehicles involved. Gerace says there might have been two separate accidents. He says the one involving the patrol car involved it getting struck from behind, and spun around. It was then struck broadside by a truck. A deputy and a trainee were transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital. A total of five people transported to the Dunkirk hospital... and, three others were taken to Lake Shore Hospital in Irving. Ten other people signed off on treatment. The injuries appear to be non-life threatening. First responders from Sheridan, Silver Creek, Forestville, County Emergency Services, and ALSTAR Ambulance were called out to the crash scene. Gerace says the department's accident reconstruction team is at the scene. Route 5 from Silver Creek to Center Road remains closed at this time.
