While snow in January is typical for Western New York, the duration of this weekend's Lake Effect Snow Warning is unusually long. The warning, which began Thursday afternoon, continues through 7pm Sunday for Southern Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Wyoming Counties. A Lake Effect Snow Watch has been issued for Northern Erie and Genesee Counties for most of Saturday.
Here are the statements issued by the National Weather Service:
...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST
SUNDAY...
* LOCATIONS...SOUTHERN ERIE...WYOMING...CHAUTAUQUA...AND CATTARAUGUS COUNTIES. GREATEST SNOW AMOUNTS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE CHAUTAUQUA RIDGE...BOSTON HILLS...AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING COUNTY.
* TIMING...THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY EVENING.
* ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 3 INCHES TODAY...3 TO 5 INCHES TONIGHT...4 TO 7 INCHES SATURDAY...4 TO 8 INCHES SATURDAY NIGHT...AND 3 TO 5 INCHES SUNDAY.
* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.
* VISIBILITIES...AS LOW AS A QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.
...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...
* LOCATIONS...GENESEE AND NORTHERN ERIE COUNTIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF BUFFALO
* TIMING...FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.
* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW POTENTIALLY ACCUMULATING 4 TO 8 INCHES IN THE MOST PERSISTENT LAKE SNOWS.
* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.
* VISIBILITIES...AS LOW AS A QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.
