New York Faces Dangerous Multi-Day Lake-Effect Snow With Up to 3 Feet Possible Near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Through Friday Evening
NEW YORK — A high-impact, multi-day lake-effect snow event is unfolding across large portions of upstate New York, with the heaviest snowfall expected downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario through 7 p.m. Friday, according to the latest official National Weather Service forecast from Buffalo.
New snowfall projections show the potential for extreme accumulations, especially in persistent lake-effect snow belts, where totals could reach two to three feet by the time the event winds down late Friday.
Heaviest Snow Focused East of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario
Forecast maps highlight two primary corridors at greatest risk for heavy snow:
- South and southeast of Lake Erie, including Dunkirk, Springville, Jamestown, and areas near Buffalo
- East and southeast of Lake Ontario, impacting Pulaski, Watertown, Lowville, and surrounding communities
In these zones, snowfall totals of 20 to 34 inches are possible where snow bands remain locked in place for extended periods.
Extreme Totals Possible in Core Lake-Effect Belts
Some of the highest projected snowfall amounts include:
- Pulaski: up to 34 inches
- Springville: around 26 inches
- Dunkirk: near 21 inches
- Jamestown: around 17 inches
- Fulton: approximately 19 inches
These totals reflect the classic nature of lake-effect snow, where small shifts in wind direction can dramatically change snowfall amounts over short distances.
Widespread Moderate Snow Beyond Core Bands
Outside the most intense snow belts, much of western and central New York will still see significant accumulation:
- Rochester: around 5 inches
- Albion and Batavia: 5 to 7 inches
- Warsaw: near 12 inches
- Utica: around 8 inches
- Geneva: 4 inches
- Ithaca, Binghamton, Oneonta: 1 to 2 inches
While these amounts are lower, travel impacts remain likely due to periods of heavy snow, gusty winds, and rapidly changing visibility.
Why This Event Is So Severe
The prolonged snowfall is being driven by:
- Cold northwest flow crossing the warm waters of the Great Lakes
- Persistent wind alignment, allowing snow bands to remain stationary
- Strong lake-induced instability, producing intense snowfall rates
This setup supports continuous lake-effect snow, rather than brief bursts, allowing totals to accumulate rapidly over several days.
Travel and Safety Impacts Expected to Continue
With snowfall rates capable of exceeding 1 to 3 inches per hour at times, impacts include:
- Near-whiteout conditions
- Rapidly snow-covered roads
- Difficult or impossible travel in hardest-hit areas
- Strain on snow removal operations
Residents in lake-effect-prone regions are urged to limit travel, prepare for prolonged snow removal efforts, and monitor local advisories closely.
Snow Expected to Persist Into Friday Evening
The current forecast calls for additional snow through 7 p.m. Friday, with only gradual weakening expected as wind patterns eventually shift. Any delay in that shift could result in even higher localized totals.
As this significant lake-effect snow event continues, conditions will remain highly localized but potentially dangerous across upstate New York.
Stay with WaldronNews.com for continued updates on snowfall totals, travel conditions, and winter weather alerts across New York State.