A prolonged lake-effect winter storm is battering communities along New York’s Great Lakes shoreline, with Winter Storm Warnings now in effect from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, creating dangerous travel conditions through Thursday and into Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo and Burlington, persistent bands of heavy lake-effect snow are targeting western and north-central New York, especially counties downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Hardest-hit areas
- Lake Erie shoreline: Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Southern Erie, Wyoming, Niagara, Orleans, and Northern Erie counties
- Lake Ontario region: Monroe (Rochester), Wayne, Northern Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, and Lewis counties
- Tug Hill Plateau: Oswego, Jefferson, and Lewis counties seeing enhanced snowfall rates
Snowfall and impacts
- 6 to 12 inches common, with locally higher totals on the Chautauqua Ridge, Boston Hills, and Tug Hill Plateau
- Strong winds producing blowing and drifting snow
- Whiteout conditions possible in persistent lake-effect bands
- Wind chills below zero Thursday into Friday, increasing frostbite risk
Timing
- Snow intensifies Wednesday evening
- Peak impacts overnight through Thursday morning commute
- Lake-effect snow continues into Thursday night and Friday, especially east of Lake Ontario
Travel concerns
Road conditions will deteriorate rapidly, particularly on:
- I-90 (New York Thruway) near Buffalo and Rochester
- Route 104 and Route 390 near Lake Ontario
- Secondary roads in lake-effect snow belts
Officials urge motorists to delay travel if possible, as conditions may vary dramatically over short distances. Even areas just a few miles outside snow bands may see vastly different conditions.
With cold air locked in and lake temperatures still relatively warm, additional lake-effect warnings or extensions remain possible. Residents along New York’s Great Lakes coastline should closely monitor local forecasts and be prepared for rapidly changing winter conditions.
