Buffalo, New York – A glaze of ice could coat roads across the North Country by Thursday evening, creating slick travel conditions through midday Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, a Winter Weather Advisory takes effect at 6 p.m. Thursday and remains in place until 1 p.m. Friday for Jefferson and Lewis counties. Freezing rain is expected to produce ice accumulations between one and two tenths of an inch, with the highest totals near the Saint Lawrence River and across higher terrain in Lewis County.
In Watertown and Lowville, untreated roads, bridges and overpasses may turn icy shortly after sunset Thursday. Elevated stretches along Interstate 81 and Route 11 will be especially vulnerable as surface temperatures fall. The icing threat continues overnight and could significantly impact both the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes.
Even a tenth of an inch of ice can create hazardous driving conditions and increase the risk of minor power disruptions if ice clings to tree limbs and utility lines.
Drivers should slow down, allow extra stopping distance and use caution on sidewalks and driveways. Conditions gradually improve Friday afternoon as temperatures rise, but lingering slick spots may persist beyond the advisory period.
