Buffalo, NY – Colder air returning to western and north-central New York will bring snow showers and increasing lake-effect snow beginning Sunday, with the greatest impacts expected east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario through early Monday.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, snow showers will spread across the region Sunday, with most areas seeing a light accumulation of a dusting to 2 inches. However, higher terrain east of the lakes is expected to see significantly greater snowfall as steadier lake-effect bands develop.
Forecasters say the most persistent lake-effect snow will focus on the Tug Hill Plateau east of Lake Ontario, where 4 to 7 inches of snow is expected by 7 a.m. Monday, with a few inches possible in surrounding lower elevations. Areas east of Lake Erie, including the Chautauqua Ridge and Boston Hills, could see 3 to 6 inches, mainly in higher terrain.
The timing of the heaviest accumulation is expected late Sunday afternoon through the first half of Sunday night, when colder air deepens and lake-effect processes strengthen. Winds will become more favorable for sustained snow bands during this period, leading to locally reduced visibility and slick travel.
The Buffalo metro area is expected to remain on the lower end of snowfall totals, though brief snow showers may still impact travel at times, especially during the evening hours.
Drivers traveling east and southeast of Buffalo toward Jamestown, Springville, Ellicottville, Watertown, and Lowville should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions, particularly in elevation-sensitive areas where snowfall rates can increase quickly.
Motorists are urged to allow extra travel time and monitor local road conditions, especially Sunday night.
