Buffalo, NY – Western New York is bracing for a stretch of turbulent winter weather as multiple Alberta Clippers may bring pop-up snowstorms every other day from Saturday, December 7, through Friday, December 13, according to early forecasts. The pattern could create repeated travel issues across the Buffalo metro, the Niagara Frontier, and the broader Great Lakes region.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a strong northwest-flow pattern will drive several clipper systems into the region next week. These fast-moving disturbances—often referred to as the “Clipper Express”—typically produce sudden bursts of snow, gusty winds, and brief but sharp temperature drops.
The first clipper is expected to reach the area Saturday night, with additional systems likely to follow in 48-hour intervals. Snowfall amounts remain uncertain, forecasters say, but even modest bursts may create slick roads and reduced visibility along the I-90 and I-190 corridors.
Meteorologists caution that the track of each disturbance will determine where snow bands develop. Western New York is especially sensitive to lake enhancement, meaning areas such as Buffalo, Orchard Park, Hamburg, and Batavia could experience locally higher totals depending on wind direction after each system passes.
Travel impacts may extend eastward toward Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and portions of the Southern Tier—including Olean, Jamestown, and Elmira—as clippers interact with elevation and moisture from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
The NWS advises residents to monitor daily updates between December 7 and 13, as Alberta Clippers can strengthen quickly and shift in timing with little notice.
