Buffalo, NY – Holiday travelers across Western New York should brace for shifting weather conditions that could slow Thanksgiving week travel, with rain arriving Wednesday before lake-effect snow forms behind a strong cold front, according to new maps from the Weather Prediction Center.
According to the WPC, widespread rain will move across the region Wednesday morning and afternoon as a coastal system pushes north. Cities including Buffalo, Rochester, Batavia, Jamestown, and the Southern Tier can expect steady rainfall through the day, reducing visibility and making for slower traffic along I-90, Route 219, and the Thruway corridor. The heaviest rain will fall ahead of the front before a rapid drop in temperatures sets the stage for lake-effect development.
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27, 2025) ushers in significantly colder air across Western New York. As winds shift westerly and northwesterly behind the departing storm, lake-effect snow bands are expected to form off both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The most persistent snow appears likely northeast of Lake Erie — affecting the Buffalo Southtowns, Orchard Park, Hamburg, and toward Springville — while separate bands may develop east of Lake Ontario toward Watertown. Accumulations will vary sharply, but slick and snow-covered roads are possible in these zones.
By Black Friday (November 28, 2025), lake-effect snow may continue, especially during the morning hours. Travelers heading to early shopping events should anticipate bursts of snow, gusty winds, and rapidly changing road conditions in traditional snowbelt areas. Elsewhere across Western New York, skies will remain cold and breezy with temperatures staying in the low to mid-30s.
Drivers are encouraged to monitor updated advisories and allow extra travel time, especially near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario where snow bands may intensify.
