Jamestown, N.Y. – A narrow but intense lake-effect snow band is locking onto the Chautauqua Ridge tonight, piling up as much as a foot of snow in higher elevations while lower totals fall closer to Lake Erie and in Jamestown.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday for Chautauqua County. Snow totals will range from 8 to 12 inches along the Chautauqua Ridge, while areas along the Lake Erie shoreline and farther inland near Jamestown will see 2 to 4 inches.
The sharp snowfall gradient means road conditions can change quickly over short distances. Routes crossing higher terrain, including sections of Interstate 86 and Route 60 near the ridge, may become snow-covered with reduced visibility during heavier bursts. Both the Monday morning and evening commutes could be affected as the band wobbles across the county.
Drivers are urged to slow down, allow extra stopping distance and prepare for rapidly changing visibility. Snow will gradually diminish before daybreak Tuesday, but slick roads may linger into the early morning hours.
