A significant amount of lake-effect snow will start to blanket parts of Western New York Tuesday, in a storm that could last until the early morning hours of Thursday.When it's all said and done, some areas could see as many as 17 inches of snow over the next two days.
The National Weather Service has posted a Lake Effect Snow Warning from 6 p.m. Tuesday until 4 a.m. Thursday for Southern Erie, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.
A Lake Effect Snow Advisory is in effect from 4 p.m. Tuesday until 1 a.m. Wednesday for Northern Erie and Genesee counties.
Lake effect snow will develop Tuesday afternoon, dumping 1 to 3 inches generally across all of Western New York. It will be windy and cold Tuesday with highs in the mid 20s.
Snow will continue into Tuesday night and will be heavy, at times. The metro Buffalo area, along with the Southtowns and Eastern suburbs could see 1 to 3 inches. The southern counties will be hit harder, with 3 to 6 inches.
On Wednesday, another 3 to 6 inches are forecast for the metro area, with 3 to 8 inches across the Southtowns and Southern Tier. Windy and cold conditions will remain, with highs in the lower 20s.
"We're probably going to see totals well over a foot far south of Buffalo," says National Weather Service meteorologist David Zaff.
Travel conditions will be difficult south of Buffalo. Whiteout conditions are possible on the Thruway westbound.
"Anywhere south of the Southtowns is going to be a messy commute, particularly this evening and all the way throughout tonight into tomorrow morning," Zaff says.
Stay with 88.7 WBFO for frequent updates on the winter weather.