Watertown, N.Y. – Snow is coating highways across the Eastern Lake Ontario region, creating slick bridges and reduced visibility ahead of the early Saturday commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 7 a.m. EST Saturday for Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties. An additional 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected, with the highest totals focused on the Tug Hill Plateau.
Roadways across Watertown, Lowville and Oswego are becoming snow-covered, especially on elevated surfaces where cold air allows accumulation to stick quickly. Sections of Interstate 81, Route 12 and rural county roads across Tug Hill may see the most significant impacts, with snowfall rates briefly reducing visibility below a mile. Even lighter bursts are enough to create slippery conditions on untreated pavement.
Drivers should reduce speed, leave extra following distance and allow added time for travel through daybreak. New York 511 provides updated road conditions statewide.
Snow intensity should ease around or shortly after 7 a.m., though slick patches may linger into mid-morning, particularly across higher elevations. Additional advisories could be issued if lake-enhanced bands persist east of Lake Ontario.
