First Storm of the Season Snarls Traffic and Interrupts School Plans

The National Weather Service cautions snow could continue to coat area roadways through the morning hours of November 16.

Forecasters say heavy snow continued overnight into the early morning hours of November 16, causing numerous traffic crashes. Storm total snow accumulations were being put at between 9 and 14 inches for the region that included Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware and Tompkins counties in New York and Bradford and Susquehanna counties in Pennsylvania. But some people in Windsor and Kirkwood reported 18" of snow at their locations.

Several school districts opted to go on a delay overnight to give road crews a chance to clear streets prior to the buses heading out but decided later in the morning to close.

Areas like the Village of Waverly issued a Snow Emergency, banning parking on the Village streets and the City of Binghamton requested cars be kept off the roads even though the winter alternate side of the street parking rules don’t go into effect until December 1. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation yesterday afternoon reduced the speed limits on Interstates like 81, 80, 380 and 84 to 45 miles per hour until roads are clear.

Emergency Services officials throughout the region during the afternoon of November 15 through early November 16 reported dozens of crashes on snow-covered roadways.  There were no reports of serious injuries.

New York State Electric and Gas has reported little in the way of trouble from heavy, wet snowfall but said its crews had prepared for the arrival of the storm system.

Conditions are expected to improve some for the weekend with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s.  The National Weather Service in Binghamton says there is still a chance of a little snow on Saturday afternoon, which should add to the festive feel of Binghamton's holiday parade that begins at 1 p.m.