All of Western New York will get more snow in the coming days. A "White Christmas" is guaranteed.
A Saturday snow accumulated just under four inches at the airport weather station.
There was a reprise from the precipitation Sunday morning, giving Santa Claus and the Snyder Fire Department a chance to greet residents (see photo). But another general snowfall will begin late Sunday afternoon and continue through the overnight hours, accumulating three to six inches across the region.
Then, Christmas Day, lake effect snow will develop in the snow belt south of Buffalo. Accumulations could reach three feet by Wednesday evening. But National Weather Service Meteorologist John Rozbicki said Buffalo itself and the Northtowns should escape the lake snow.
"For the most part, it should be across ski country in the traditional snowbelt. It could get into the distant Buffalo Southtowns Monday evening, but that will be brief," Rozbicki said. "Buffalo should be spared at this point."
Winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour Monday will cause blowing snow, making for difficult driving conditions in areas of lake snow.
A winter weather advisory is posted for northern Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Genesee Counties from late Sunday afternoon through Christmas morning while southern Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Wyoming Counties will be under a lake effect snow warning through Wednesday evening.
By Wednesday, frigid temperatures arrive with highs in the teens and lows in the single digits.
"It will feel more like mid-winter," Rozbicki said.