Another winter storm is bringing more lake effect snow to New York, with some counties expecting as much as 18 inches of snow this week.
National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists have issued myriad weather alerts across New York as a winter storm arrives, bringing gusty winds and heavy snow with it. The storm comes not even a week after a storm over Thanksgiving weekend dumped upward of 5 feet of snow in parts of New York.
The incoming system will have lower totals, with up to widespread amounts between 12 and 18 inches expected, NWS Buffalo said.
"A storm system will bring snow, lake effect snow, gusty winds, and blowing snow to the area this afternoon- Thursday night, with the greatest impacts (mainly from blowing snow) from late this evening through Thursday," the office posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Lake snows will then persist thru Fri night SE/E of the lakes."
A snowfall map included with the post showed that the highest snowfall, up to 18 inches is expected in northeastern Oswego County and western Lewis County. Up to 12 inches of snow is expected in Jefferson, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Wyoming counties, with widespread amounts of around 4 inches forecast for many other counties within the Buffalo forecast region.
NWS meteorologist Jim Mitchell told Newsweek that in Oswego and Lewis counties, a mixture of lake effect and storm snow will fall, with the highest accumulations expected in the higher elevation areas. Western New York east of Lake Erie also is expecting heavy snowfall, he said. The NWS map showed amounts up to 12 inches in that area, though Mitchell said as much as 24 inches could fall in the higher terrain.
Weather alerts in place across New York include a lake effect snow warning, winter storm warning, winter weather advisory and wind advisory.
Similar alerts also are in place for parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts.
Some of the alerts warned of snow squalls, which could come on quickly.
"Light snow will develop this afternoon, increasing in intensity this evening. Embedded snow squalls may reduce visibility to near zero at times Thursday morning," a winter storm warning in Binghamton, New York, said. "Winds will become increasingly gusty Thursday, as the event transitions to lake effect snow."
Several alerts warned of dangerous travel conditions.
"Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility," the NWS office in State College, Pennsylvania, said. "Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines."
NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Cody Snell previously told Newsweek there is no safe place on a highway during a snow squall and urged motorists to drive with caution should they encounter one.
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