Snow, strong winds, and localized lake effect bands are predicted to provide hazardous travel conditions across much of New York through Saturday night and early Sunday.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued multiple Winter Weather Advisories for western, central, and north-central New York as an Arctic front sweeps through the region.
The alert for Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties, which includes Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Jamestown, and Olean, will remain in effect until 7 p.m. Saturday. Forecasters predict 2 to 5 more inches of snow, with heavier amounts on hilltops south of Buffalo and across Orleans County. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph might generate blowing and drifting snow, decreasing visibility at times.
Monroe, Wayne, Northern Cayuga, Oswego, Livingston, and Ontario counties, which include Rochester, Oswego, Newark, Geneseo, and Canandaigua, are under a longer-duration advisory until 7 a.m. Sunday. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are forecast in most places, with 4 to 8 inches likely around Lake Ontario’s coastline. Gusty winds up to 35 mph may cause near-whiteout conditions in lake effect snow bands.
A Winter Weather Advisory remains in force for Jefferson County, including Watertown, until 1 p.m. Saturday. Snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are forecast, with the highest amounts south of the city and blowing snow near Lake Ontario’s shoreline.
Officials warn that travel could be difficult due to snow-covered roads and rapidly shifting visibility when snow squalls and lake effect bands form. Conditions might vary greatly over short distances.