BURLINGTON, VT — Winter’s first strong lake effect snow event is sweeping across northern New York this morning, bringing periods of heavy snow and gusty winds that could make Thanksgiving travel across the Adirondacks and Champlain Valley treacherous. The National Weather Service in Burlington reports that snow will continue through tonight, with heaviest bursts expected later this evening.
Motorists traveling west of Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake, and Malone should prepare for visibility drops below a quarter-mile and quickly accumulating snow on untreated roadways. Even light snow bands can cause rapid changes in conditions, with stretches of I-87, Route 11, and Route 30 turning slick in minutes. Forecasters urge drivers to slow down, keep extra distance, and consider delaying travel if possible.
Snowfall totals will vary sharply — from a dusting east of Lake Champlain to 3–6 inches in the western Adirondacks, where lake bands will persist longest. “This is classic early-season lake effect,” meteorologists noted. “Localized bursts could double totals within narrow bands.”
By Friday, lingering upslope snow showers will taper across the Green Mountains and Adirondacks, leaving behind brisk northwest winds and highs in the low 30s. Skies will gradually clear into the weekend, but another cold push early next week may set up more flurries as temperatures dip well below normal heading into December.
