Concerns over freezing rain have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory through 4 a.m. Saturday for Buffalo and much of the region. Meteorologist Bob Hamilton sees conditions changing throughout the weekend. "It looks like a higher chance for a white Christmas. Each day, it's looking better and better we're going to get fairly widespread snow later on Christmas Eve."
While that may inspire traditional holiday imagery of warm fireplaces and snowball fights, Hamilton is bracing travelers for what might be ahead.
"That's going to transition into significant lake snows east of both lakes during the Christmas week."
The extended forecast is also calling for below-freezing temperatures, weather that should be welcomed by the organizers of next Friday's outdoor hockey game at New Era Field. The World Junior Hockey Championship game between the U.S. and Canada is expected to be played with temperatures in the teens. Snow is also in the forecast.
