By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The first day of winter is December 21st, but now has piled high across the Western New York region.
Lake snows have subsided in the metro Buffalo area after causing sloppy, snowy driving conditions Tuesday afternoon and evening.
WBFO News talked with National Weather Service Meteorologist Bill Hibbert.
"We've got so much snow this fall already it looks like winter. And we can almost guarantee a white Christmas for folks around the area," said Hibbert.
A lake effect snow warning for Chautuaqua and Cattaraugus Counties has been extended through 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Chautauqua Ridge and Perrysburg received up to 20-inches Tuesday. Those areas could see another four to seven inches of new snow.
In metro Buffalo about 5.5 inches of snow was measured at the National Weather Service Airport station in Cheektowaga. Lake effect snow showers will continue mainly north and northeast of Buffalo Tuesday.
The lake effect snows will continue until Lake Erie freezes over. Hibbert said some ice is just starting to form over the Lake.
"At the western quarter of Lake Erie, is beginning to show frazzle ice patch and patches, but to shut the lake down, it needs to be a solid pack of ice. Usually by the end of December and into January that occurs," said Hibbert. Cold temperatures over the next several weeks should help form more ice along Lake Erie noted Hibbert.