Heavy lake effect snow once again hit areas downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, including Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday as arctic air flowing over the still mostly 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 this snow band, resulting in significant events with localized storm accumulation amounts of 3 feet or more, the FOX Prediction Center said.
Buffalo International Airport reported 3 inches of snow in just 34 minutes late Wednesday morning – a snowfall rate of more than 5 inches per hour.
Heavy snow in Erie County, New York, prompted officials to declare several 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 Buffalo county and city offices were also closed for the day.
Footage captured from a snow plow outside Buffalo early Wednesday morning shows the “extremely difficult conditions” any driver will face, with road signs nearly buried in the snow.
The snow will affect the same area hit by last weekend’s lake effect snow. Overall, lake effect-prone areas of New York and Pennsylvania faced another 1-3 feet of new snow. Between the two events, some locations may see 5 feet or more of snow.
The area between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie is expected to be hit by a weekend snowstorm. FOX Weather
Heavy snow came down from Lake Erie
A lake effect band off Lake Erie will dump inches to feet of snow around the Buffalo area throughout Wednesday. The northern edge of the band may reach as far north as southern Niagara County, the FOX Forecast Center said.
“As the snow will be fluffy with less water content, winds above 35 mph later Wednesday will produce blowing and drifting snow with conditions possibly white at times,” the National Weather Service office in Buffalo wrote.
Large snow drifts are also possible.
A northward drift into the snow band will give Buffalo Southtowns a temporary respite from heavy snow.
Winds will shift to the west by Wednesday night. This would result in the lake strip shifting south across the Buffalo metro area and back into the Southtowns. It will eventually subside Thursday as the coast-to-coast disturbance spreads, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Areas around Lake Ontario are likely to receive 1-2 inches of snow. FOX Weather
Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour are possible off Lake Ontario
Winds out of the west-southwest should put the pulse of a band of lake effect snow from Lake Ontario into the Watertown and Fort Drum areas of New York, where it will continue through Wednesday.
Snowfall rates between 1 and 2 inches per hour appear possible. Fluffy snow and winds above 35 mph will produce blowing and drifting snow with the possibility of whiteout conditions at times.
On Wednesday night, the steering wind will shift to the west, causing the lake band to shift south of Watertown and focus on the Tug Hill Plateau.
The heaviest lake snow is likely to occur Wednesday night, with snowfall rates in excess of 3 inches per hour possible. Heavy snow will continue throughout Thursday before ending Thursday evening.
The snow will probably be gone by the time the Bills game starts. AP
The region is still covered in snow from the previous storm
For residents of western New York, this week’s storms are piling on top of heavy snow from the weekend.
Video from the city of Hamburg, New York, Office of Emergency Services on Sunday showed a car driving slowly through the snow with the other driver’s headlights barely visible in the distance.
Heavy snow covered Hoak’s Lakeshore Restaurant in Hamburg with ice, as captured by Richard Hulburd of @weather_buffalo. Writing on X on Monday, Hulburd said the scene felt like he “walked into the movie Frozen.”
The restaurant describes the weather as “a small dose of ice castle coating.”
Is another NFL playoff postponement possible?
All eyes will turn to Orchard Park’s Highmark Stadium on Sunday, when the Buffalo Bills are set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs at 6:30pm EST. The NFL and fans are hoping to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s all-day postponement of the Wild Card game until Monday due to near-blizzard conditions.
Even on Monday, people had to wade through feet of snow to cheer on the home team. This is despite the team calling on fans to come shovel snow from the stadium for $20 an hour and free food.
“This is the first game in NFL history without designated seating, but you have to clear your own seats,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Ian Oliver said. “It’s kind of every man for themselves.”
The heaviest snow looks set to stop by the time the Bills face the Chiefs on Sunday, but light snow is still possible.
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