Buffalo, NY – The quiet start to the week won’t last long across western New York, where snow and mixed precipitation are set to return by Tuesday afternoon. After a calm, bright Monday with highs in the low 20s, another Great Lakes clipper system is expected to move in, bringing gusty winds and 1 to 3 inches of snow to the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, snow showers will begin around midday Tuesday, increasing through the afternoon and evening as temperatures climb near 37°F. Winds could gust up to 34 mph, creating low visibility and blowing snow during the evening commute. Travelers along I-90 and Route 219 should use caution as road conditions may deteriorate rapidly.
By Wednesday, the system intensifies — rain mixes with snow as temperatures hover in the upper 30s to low 40s, followed by another drop in temperatures Wednesday night. Light accumulation continues, especially across higher elevations south of Buffalo, where lake-enhanced snow may linger through Thursday morning.
Beyond midweek, a brief dry stretch develops Thursday and Friday, but long-range models suggest persistent lake-effect snow and Arctic air from Dec. 11–17, keeping conditions icy across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley into the start of the holiday travel period.
Five-Day Outlook (Buffalo, NY):
- Tuesday: Snow likely, high 37°F.
- Tuesday Night: Rain/snow mix, gusts near 34 mph.
- Wednesday: Rain/snow likely, high 40°F.
- Thursday: Chance snow showers, high 30°F.
- Friday: Chance of snow, high 28°F.
