WATERTOWN, N.Y. – A messy mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is coating northern New York this morning, making roads slick across Jefferson and Lewis Counties and complicating travel across the Watertown and Lowville region. The winter system continues through daybreak, tapering as colder, drier air pushes in behind it.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 7 a.m. Monday for the two-county area. Forecasters expect 2 to 4 inches of snow combined with around one-tenth of an inch of ice, enough to cause hazardous travel and difficult commutes early Monday. The heaviest snow is falling north of Route 177, while a glaze of ice lingers across valleys closer to the lake.
Drivers along I-81, U.S. 11, and Route 12 should use extra caution as bridges, ramps, and untreated secondary roads may become slick. The mix of snow and ice will gradually change to light snow before ending by sunrise, but patchy ice may persist into the morning commute.
Residents are urged to slow down, allow extra travel time, and be cautious on sidewalks and driveways, where thin ice layers can form quickly. Forecasters say the region will stay cold and breezy through midweek, with another round of light lake-effect snow possible later in the week.
