More than 4 million people in five states were under a winter storm warning Sunday as heavy snow continued to blanket the Great Lakes region, prompting emergency declarations and the deployment of National Guard troops to rescue stranded motorists.

Sunday saw another day of intense lake-effect snow bands, particularly in Western New York, where more than 40 inches of snow has already fallen since Thursday and up to 24 inches more is expected Sunday through Monday.

Parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin were under winter alert as of Sunday.

Buffalo area expects more snow

A lake effect snow warning remained in effect Sunday from Cleveland, Ohio, to Buffalo, New York.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday that 11 counties, including the Buffalo area in Erie County, were under a state of emergency.

Hochul said Sunday that heavier snowfall was forecast for Western and Central New York through Sunday night and into Monday, adding that the snow could fall at rates of up to 4 inches per hour.

Snow totals showed Barns Corner in New York’s Lewis County had received 45 inches of snow from the Arctic outbreak as of Sunday morning, while Perrysburg in Cattaraugus County recorded 37.6 inches and Lewis County in Copenhagen recorded 36.5 inches of snow.

Hochul said an additional 1 to 2 feet of snow was possible in Western New York, with the largest accumulation occurring over northern Chautauqua and south-central Erie counties. She said an additional 2 to 3 feet of snow was possible in the North Country, with the largest accumulation from northern Tug Hill to near Watertown.

Lake effect snow is common this time of year as colder air flows over the relatively warm waters of the lakes, resulting in extremely localized heavy snowfall over an extended period of time.

“An intense lake effect band in Watertown and Jefferson County will continue to produce rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour today,” the National Weather Service in Buffalo said in a social media post Sunday.

“Shovelers” called for Highmark Stadium to be evacuated for the Bills-49ers game

At Highmark Stadium in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills are preparing to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, and snow removal has been a grueling effort with more than 18 inches of snow already falling and more forecast for the season Kick-off at 8:20 p.m.

There was so much snow that the Bills called in snow shovels to help remove the snow before the game and offered $20 an hour plus food and hot drinks.

“As New Yorkers face the ongoing impacts of lake snow, first responders are working around the clock to keep our communities safe,” Hochul said. “As we look to kick off tonight, we are doing everything we can to clear roads, assess damage and equip state and local partners with the resources they need.”

Travel advisories have been issued for Jefferson and Lewis counties and parts of Erie County.

Hochul said lake effect snow will move into central New York and parts of the Mohawk Valley region beginning Sunday afternoon and Monday. Between 4 and 10 inches of snow are forecast for central New York and 3 to 5 inches of snow in the Mohawk Valley region.

The state Department of Transportation banned empty and tandem commercial vehicles on I-86 from the Pennsylvania state line to I-390 and on State Route 219 from the Pennsylvania state line to I-90.

In addition to National Guard members, additional personnel have been deployed to assist with possible power and road emergencies, Hochul said.

The Pennsylvania National Guard is deployed to rescue stranded drivers

In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro also issued a disaster emergency declaration and deployed National Guard troops to Erie County, Pennsylvania, to rescue stranded motorists. Pennsylvania State Police responded to more than 200 traffic accidents between Friday and Saturday alone, Shapiro said.

“At the county’s request, I called in the Pennsylvania National Guard — now on scene — to assist stranded drivers and ensure emergency responders can get to the people who need them,” Shapiro said in a statement.

Erie County, Pennsylvania Executive Brenton Davis said the local disaster emergency will remain in effect until the middle of this week.

Davis said county buildings, including courthouses, in Erie County will remain closed Monday and Tuesday and that officials are advising school districts to remain closed as well. He said residents should minimize travel.

Counties in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania have recorded massive amounts of snowfall since Friday.

Gaylord, Michigan, recorded 24.8 inches of snow on Friday, marking the snowiest calendar day on record and breaking its previous record of 17 inches set on March 9, 1942.