Binghamton, New York – Dangerously cold air is pouring into central New York Friday, setting the stage for a significant winter storm expected to bring heavy snow and major travel impacts late this weekend into early next week.
According to the National Weather Service in Binghamton, an Arctic front crossing the region Friday will drive wind chills well below zero tonight into Saturday morning. An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for northern Oneida County, while Cold Weather Advisories cover the rest of the area as frostbite can occur in a short amount of time with exposed skin.
Attention then turns to a winter storm expected to develop early Sunday and persist into Monday. Confidence is increasing that most of the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and central New York will see moderate to heavy snowfall. Current expectations support widespread totals of 12 to 18 inches, including Binghamton, Cortland, Ithaca, Norwich, and Oneonta, with isolated higher amounts possible in the Catskills and northeast Pennsylvania.
Travel impacts are likely to peak Sunday through Sunday night as snowfall becomes most intense. Portions of northeast Pennsylvania and the southern Catskills remain an area of uncertainty, where storm track shifts could affect totals.
Residents are urged to finish cold-weather preparations now and plan for difficult travel and prolonged snow impacts through Monday. Winter Storm Watches remain in effect, and additional alerts are likely as the system approaches.
