Very heavy snowfall rates between 2 and 4 inches per hour are expected in the core of these snow bands, resulting in a significant event with localized storm total accumulations of 3 feet or more.
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Heavy lake-effect snow is once again pummeling areas downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, including Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday as arctic air flowing over the still nearly ice-free Great Lakes will continue to produce accumulations measured in feet.
Very heavy snowfall rates between 2 and 4 inches per hour are expected in the core of these snow bands, resulting in a significant event with localized storm total accumulations of 3 feet or more, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Buffalo International Airport reported 3 inches of snow in just 34 minutes late Wednesday morning - a snowfall rate of over 5 inches per hour.
The heavy snowfall in Erie County, New York, prompted officials to declare a number of travel bans early Wednesday morning. County Executive Mark Poloncarz reported that roads in Hamburg, Orchard Park, Lancaster and other communities were closed. As a result, all county and Buffalo city offices were also closed for the day.
Footage recorded from a snowplow just outside Buffalo early Wednesday morning showed the "very difficult conditions" any driver would face, with road signs almost buried in the snow.
The snow will impact the same areas hit by the lake-effect snow last weekend. Overall, lake-effect-prone areas of New York and Pennsylvania are in for another 1-3 feet of new snow. Between the two events, some locations may see 5 feet or more of snow.
Heavy snow coming off Lake Erie
The lake-effect band off Lake Erie will dump several inches to feet of snow around the Buffalo area throughout the day Wednesday. The northern edge of the band probably gets as far north as far southern Niagara County, the FOX Forecast Center said.
"As the snow will be fluffy with less water content, winds gusting over 35 mph later on Wednesday will produce blowing and drifting snow with possible whiteout conditions at times," wrote the National Weather Service office in Buffalo.
Large snow drifts will also be likely.
Snow rates of 1-2 inches per hour likely off Lake Ontario
Winds out of the west-southwest should put the heart of the lake-effect snow band from Lake Ontario into the Watertown and Fort Drum areas in New York, where it will persist through the day Wednesday.
Snow rates between 1 and 2 inches per hour appear likely. The fluffy snow and winds gusting over 35 mph will create blowing and drifting snow with possible whiteout conditions at times.
All eyes will shift to Orchard Park's Highmark Stadium on Sunday, when the Buffalo Bills are set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs at 6:30 p.m. EST. The NFL and fans are hoping not to have a repeat of last weekend's day-long postponement of the Wild Card game until Monday due to near-blizzard conditions.
Video by Dan Oshier - Buffalo Videography
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17 янв 2024
