Onondaga County issues travel advisory, closes offices, parks due to storm

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Onondaga County issued a travel advisory on Friday closing county offices in anticipation of winter storms forecast to hit the area.

The travel advisory was issued by County Executive Ryan McMahon from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, according to a news release from his office.

The advisory does not restrict travel, but warns of dangerous road conditions, county officials said. McMahon said travel should be avoided if possible.

He also closed all non-essential county offices and buildings on Friday, including branches of the Central Library and City Library.

Outdoor displays on the lake, county parks, and zoo lights will be closed on Friday.

Heavy rain, freezing roads, high winds and dangerously light winds are expected in central New York on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to plummet from the high 40s at 10am to 25 degrees by 1pm.

At a press conference held on Thursday, McMahon said most of the salt and pretreatment on the roads will be washed away by rain, which is expected to start Thursday night and continue through Friday morning.

This means that the rain turns to ice, making the roads slippery.

McMahon asked school superintendents to cancel schools on Friday.

Related article: More Central NY School Districts Closing Fridays (See List)

Many community organizations are closed as well.

The Syracuse Crunch also canceled Friday’s game against the Rochester Americans, according to the team’s Facebook page.

Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime, and public safety.Have a tip, story idea, photo, question, or comment? [email protected].