ROCHESTER, New York — Widespread snow followed by lake effect bands disrupted travel Friday afternoon along Interstate 90 from Rochester east through Wayne County toward Oswego County, where 3 to 6 inches of snow accumulated through Sunday morning, with 4 to 7 inches piling up along the Lake Ontario shoreline as winds strengthened behind an Arctic front.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo kept a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 1 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Sunday for Monroe, Wayne, Northern Cayuga, Oswego, Livingston, and Ontario counties. Forecasters said an initial round of synoptic snow Friday would transition to localized lake effect snow tonight through Saturday, with wind gusts near 35 miles per hour producing blowing and drifting snow.
Road conditions deteriorated quickly during the Friday evening commute. Along Interstate 90 and United States Route 104, snow-covered lanes slowed traffic through Rochester, Webster, Newark, and Fair Haven, while shifting lake bands repeatedly reduced visibility near the shoreline. South of the lake, United States Route 20 and New York Route 5 turned slick across Canandaigua, Geneva, and Auburn, where snow intensity fluctuated sharply over short distances.
Farther north, lake-enhanced snow targeted Oswego and northern Cayuga County, burying exposed stretches of New York Route 104 and New York Route 481 as gusty winds pushed snow back onto treated pavement. Inland corridors through Livingston County, including Geneseo, saw steadier but lighter accumulations that still degraded traction on secondary roads.
Transportation officials warned that lake effect snow can produce rapid changes in conditions, with near-whiteouts possible just a few miles from clear pavement. Crews continued plowing major routes, but drifting snow limited how long roads could remain clear within active bands.
The advisory remains in effect through 7 a.m. Sunday. Lake effect snow gradually weakens late Saturday night into Sunday morning, but lingering slick spots and drifts may persist, especially near Lake Ontario, before gradual improvement later Sunday.
