A lake effect snow advisory on Wednesday night that had followed a morning in which the area was pounded by snow was not enough to dampen New Year's Eve excitement in Cayuga County.
The winter weather came on one of the busiest nights of the year for many restaurants and bars, but establishments still were planning to be busy.
Even as some parts of the region prepared for an additional 3 to 7 inches of snow overnight, Michael Tutor, the general manager of the Sherwood Inn, in Skaneateles, said he expected to see a strong turnout for New Year's Eve dinner at his facility.
“We've got close to 400 guests and we have got no reservation cancellations so far,” Tutor said Wednesday afternoon. “A lot of people stay at the hotel so they are already here ... and a lot of Skaneateles residents are within walking distance from our hotels.”
While the worst of an earlier wave of winter weather cleared up by noon on Wednesday, Cayuga County Highway Superintendent George Wethey said snow drifts caused by wind and additional snow accumulation would pose a hazard to travelers until Thursday.
In an attempt to keep the roads clear for residents looking to go out, Wethey said snowplows were to be out all night maintaining nearly 320 miles of roadway.
“While the roads are not impassable, they are difficult to navigate,” Wethey said. “The snow came quick and the temperature dropped pretty low. Coupled with New Year's Eve, people should drive slow and allow extra time for traveling.”
According to the Cayuga County 911 Center's call logs, emergency workers responded to nearly 25 calls for help between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday from drivers whose vehicles had gone off the road.
With road conditions better inside Auburn city limits than the rest of the county, a manager from Domino's said pizza delivery drivers would be going out throughout the evening because of the increased business that comes from bad weather and New Year's Eve.
Even after the New Year's celebrations are over, drivers will need to be cautious during the day today, the National Weather Service said. A lake effect snow advisory will remain in effect until 7 a.m. this morning. Residents may see another half inch of snow falling throughout the day, with winds gusting up to 35 mph also expected to reduce visibility to at least a half-mile and cause snowdrifts.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
Even as some parts of the region prepared for an additional 3 to 7 inches of snow overnight, Michael Tutor, the general manager of the Sherwood Inn, in Skaneateles, said he expected to see a strong turnout for New Year's Eve dinner at his facility.
“We've got close to 400 guests and we have got no reservation cancellations so far,” Tutor said Wednesday afternoon. “A lot of people stay at the hotel so they are already here ... and a lot of Skaneateles residents are within walking distance from our hotels.”
While the worst of an earlier wave of winter weather cleared up by noon on Wednesday, Cayuga County Highway Superintendent George Wethey said snow drifts caused by wind and additional snow accumulation would pose a hazard to travelers until Thursday.
In an attempt to keep the roads clear for residents looking to go out, Wethey said snowplows were to be out all night maintaining nearly 320 miles of roadway.
“While the roads are not impassable, they are difficult to navigate,” Wethey said. “The snow came quick and the temperature dropped pretty low. Coupled with New Year's Eve, people should drive slow and allow extra time for traveling.”
According to the Cayuga County 911 Center's call logs, emergency workers responded to nearly 25 calls for help between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday from drivers whose vehicles had gone off the road.
With road conditions better inside Auburn city limits than the rest of the county, a manager from Domino's said pizza delivery drivers would be going out throughout the evening because of the increased business that comes from bad weather and New Year's Eve.
Even after the New Year's celebrations are over, drivers will need to be cautious during the day today, the National Weather Service said. A lake effect snow advisory will remain in effect until 7 a.m. this morning. Residents may see another half inch of snow falling throughout the day, with winds gusting up to 35 mph also expected to reduce visibility to at least a half-mile and cause snowdrifts.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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