Lake County offices are closed Monday and drivers are asked to stay off the roads after a state of emergency was declared in response to heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures from a winter storm. The decision was made late Sunday by Lake County commissioners after lake-effect snow blanketed parts of county.

The Lake County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Sunday to declare a state of emergency due to the severe winter storm. Emergency Management Director Joseph Busher said this now gives them the ability to work with the county and local communities to share resources,

The Lake County Commissioners declared a State of Emergency in the response to the winter storm affecting the area.

Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency in 11 western and northern New York counties this afternoon. The reason for the declaration is two impressive Lake Effect Snow showers coming almost directly east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Near Buffalo, between 10 and 20 inches of lake effect snow is expected by the end of Sunday, according to the Weather Service. The southern part of Erie County, along with Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, are predicted to see 2 to 4 feet of snow by Monday night.

The State of Emergency started at 3 p.m. Friday, and it includes Allegany, Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, and Wyoming counties.

Several lake effect snow and winter storm warnings have been in effect in the area over the past few days. Four lifelong friends from the UK recreated their favorite vacation photo over half a century later.