Lake Effect Snow on I-81 near Watertown, N.Y.

Take a trip into the heart of the lake effect snow band that dropped several feet of snow along I-81 near Watertown from Jan. 29-31, 2019, with Region 3 Emergency Manager Tim Baker.

[@badmonkey2222]

I lived in Hilton, New York right outside of Rochester for 6 years, could see Lake Ontario from my house and I remember many days like that, would be driving along it's nice and sunny and next thing you know you see a black squall cloud and boom, snowing so hard you can't even see 5ft in front of you, don't miss it one bit.

[@mikenoftsier6336]

haha yeah I live on Walker Lake rd

[@badmonkey2222]

@@mikenoftsier6336 haaa hell yea i lived on Church rd off of Town line rd in the sticks, nothing but farms and orchards.

[@greg33770]

what a change from where you came from ! Good Video ! Thanx !

[@mattbrayman1453]

You should do more videos like this and videos that showcase a different job within NYSDOT each time

[@NOOKnookCROOK]

Awwww. I'm a mover who drives in it for a third of the pay. Welcome to Watertown

[@screwauger60]

Grew up in Watn and moved out of state in 2000. Have never seen a plow like this in I81 and for years, I drove back and forth in all seasons from Maine to NNY. Strange looking and seems kinda dangerous but what do I know. Cool nonetheless.

[@darrensmith3418]

Welcome to winter in Watertown, NY

[@fyrman9092]

It's not just Watertown. Usually due east of the lake is the worst:Pulaski, sandy creek, Adams. But, it is truly based on the wind direction that blows off lake Ontario.

[@jeffwoehrle]

Good video!

[@edball4906]

GOOD VIDEO!

[@fundsfordad]

NICE JOB GUYS and GIRLS !!!

[@58twright]

Wow

[@Shane23Armada]

Omg I hate that I 81. Drove there one night in a blizzard 2015 with my armada . From Canada to nyc . It was only us on and the salt truck on the road.

[@johnanthonyalberola6252]

Fr Drum are is Armour fort i was there

[@mommyof3677]

So funny to us this is normal. But it's cause to some ppl hurricanes are normal

[@DynoDieselWagon]

THEY WERE ALL FORE WARNED ⚠️ THEY DESERVE EVERY BIT OF WHATS AHEAD !

[@Dirthauler65]

The first vehicle was off the road because people buy SUV's and think they can just drive like it's a summer day because they have all wheel drive. Here's the truth. I've owned 4 wheel drive pickups since I can remember, and even my car is an all wheel drive, and even though I can get up to a high rate of speed, it is stupid to do so. It's not how many wheels that are driving that keep you stuck to the road, it's the contact between the tires and the road surface that keep you in the road, so if you have snow and ice on the road surface, no SUV , or 4wd or all wd vehicle will be any safer than a regular 2wd vehicle. The ads are made to mislead you into feeling invincible. If you can't get out and run on the surface of the road without slipping and falling, what makes you think your vehicle should be hurled across it at a high rate of speed?

[@r1lukasz]

I rather be in 4wd vehicle in snow than rear wheel drive

[@Dirthauler65]

@@r1lukasz Who wouldn't be, but you've missed the point completely.

[@badmonkey2222]

I lived in Monroe County, Hilton New York for 6 years, could see Lake Ontario from my house, I had a little front wheel drive Chevy Cavalier and not once in six winters did I ever get stuck once, that little car drove like a champ in the snow.

[@Dirthauler65]

@@badmonkey2222 Yep, I have lived in Oswego county my entire life, Directly East of the lake and only 9 miles inland, to say we see snow here is an understatement, and my first pickup was a 2wd 1969 Dodge pickup. I drove that in some pretty good storms and never got stuck, then I upgraded to a 1977 Cordoba, also only 2wd, never an issue with that either, then a 1982 LeBaron, front wheel drive, no problems, it wasn't until after that that I bought my first 4wd pickup brand new in 1987. If you don't drive like a fool, and think that just because you have 4wd or all wd you can still drive fast, you'll be fine. I've never been in a ditch in the winter in all my years of driving. It's not rocket science, just slow down.

[@badmonkey2222]

@@Dirthauler65 yes you guys in the East end of the lake get it big time, I dont know if your familiar with Hilton, it's about 15 miles NW of Rochester, like I said you could see the lake at the end of our street, we get our fair share of lake effect snow trust me, there were a couple of yrs we had 6ft on the ground and the whole North side of the house was buried, I'm sure you know all about that.

[@farmcentralohio]

The tow plow is a joke. You have a second driver following for safety, why not have that driver in a second truck and forget the silly tow plow. It was a gimmick and you all are still falling for it. Complete waste of resources, two drivers in two trucks could get a whole lot more done.

[@RustyZipper]

Lol, the only joke is on the taxpayers. You will notice that the salter is in front of that tow plow just hammering it. In 3 years she will be not even be worthy of the scrap metal heap. What a dangerous position to be driving that rig too.

[@fyrman9092]

I've seen plenty of the NY tow plows without an escort. On the economic side of this issue is the truck costs $250,000 fully equipped and the trailer is $100,000. By using the tow plows, it improves cycle time to keep the road clear. If there are 4 trucks available for clearing the highway, both lanes and shoulders can be cleared by one truck and tow plow. At the rate lake effect can fall, having trucks on a half our circuit is doable.

[@lukeseiver8202]

I work for the dot and the tow plow was one of the best things they gave me for running 90 on erie so you dont have a fuckin clue what your talkin bout sweetheart

[@farmcentralohio]

@@lukeseiver8202 Typical state worker, thinks they are something special lol. That plow leaves you plenty of time for your butt lovin with the other fellas doesn't it?? Thanks for telling all where you work, I'll be sure and let your supervisor know :) Might want to be careful who you try and sound like a big shot to next time haha

[@fyrman9092]

@@farmcentralohio I hope your not in a ditch and he goes by to bury your ass.

[@yankeetraitor2837]

northern NY deserves everythinh it gets

[@alanbaker7677]

That is so true they deserve to have that kind of weather year around, them people in the north country are so rude and they price gouge ya on just about everything from gas to food especialy in the winter , then thay come down here to the southern tier and think they can hunt were ever they want and ignore private property like they own they need to stay up north .

[@alanbaker7677]

@{Springtime Sky} Yes there are good people that live up there ,i have friends that live there i have been there numerous times over the last 30 years but alot of them especialy the operators of businesses are rude people especialy when they know your not from the area and price gouging they get away with should be illegal , I quit coming there for snowmobiling several years ago because the prices everything got way ridiculous . Its legalized thievery and the rudeness to go along with it .

[@matthewarnold4557]

Some people suck

[@barbdeepfishin1710]

@@alanbaker7677 bahahaha ain't to upset you keep your ass down there that's for damned sure I've always been taught you get treated how you treat people maybe your just a stupid prick????? But then again that's an opinion isnt it

[@derrick4052]

@@alanbaker7677 I've lived in the Watertown region my whole life and I agree to some extent that in general people are quite rude and backwards. I used to work retail and my manager (who was from Syracuse) would always ask me why people from Watertown were so rude. I don't know if you can necessarily blame the people though. There isn't much about life for most people to be excited or happy about up here.