Buffalo, New York — Lake-effect snow will intensify across western New York today and tonight, bringing periods of heavy snowfall, strong winds, and dangerous travel conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Forecasters say snow will quickly ramp up off Lake Erie today, with snow developing late this morning and becoming most intense between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. across the Niagara Frontier, including Buffalo. Snowfall rates may exceed 1 inch per hour at times, and a 2- to 4-hour window of near-whiteout conditions is possible northeast of Lake Erie, mainly around midday.
By this evening, lake-effect snow off Lake Erie is expected to shift southward into the Southtowns and toward ski country, while a separate band off Lake Ontario strengthens overnight. Winds will remain strong, with gusts decreasing to 35–45 mph overnight, still strong enough to cause blowing snow and sharply reduced visibility.
Snowfall totals today may reach 3 to 6 inches in parts of the Buffalo area, with lighter amounts outside the main lake-effect bands. However, the longer-duration event will produce significantly higher totals through midweek. The National Weather Service forecasts 12 to 18 inches of snow across portions of the Buffalo metro and 18 to 30 inches or more in persistent lake-effect areas such as the Southtowns, ski country, and east of Lake Ontario.
Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly at times, especially where snow squalls develop. Officials warn that roads may become snow-covered in minutes due to intense bursts of snowfall combined with gusty winds.
Residents are urged to monitor forecasts closely, avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy snow, and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions as lake-effect bands shift through the region through Wednesday night.
