ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the State Emergency Response Operations Center has been activated in preparation for back-to-back storms expected to drop 1 to 2 feet of snow across upstate New York.

The Democrat says that the state has more than 2,000 plows and other vehicles and 430,000 tons of salt on hand to deal with a storm expected to hit the region late Thursday, followed by a more severe one starting Saturday and lasting into Sunday.

The first storm is expected to dump 2 to 5 inches by Friday morning. Forecasters say the second wintry blast could drop as much as 2 feet of snow in some parts of the upstate region between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with high winds and dangerously cold wind chills.

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