"I encourage all New Yorkers to stay alert, stay off the roads if possible, and keep in contact with family and friends as we move through the next 48 hours.”

Officials in upstate New York counties have declared a state of emergency as they prepare for a major snowstorm that has already dumped over two feet of snow in the Midwest and is forecast to accumulate more this weekend.

The village of Whitehall has been placed under a state of emergency due to a water system failure, according to a message from Mayor Francis Putorti. The Whitehall Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting on Sunday night, where the village voted to declare a local state of emergency.