The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings across the Tug Hill plateau and Western New York as a significant lake effect snow event is expected to begin Sunday and continue through Wednesday.
The most severe impacts are forecast for Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties, where total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 feet are expected. The warning begins at 7 a.m. Sunday and lasts until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The Tug Hill region, along with areas near Watertown and Fort Drum, will see the heaviest snowfall, with rates up to 4 inches per hour at times Monday night through Tuesday night.
Central New York, including Syracuse, is expected to see only a few inches of snow, according to current forecasts.
In Western New York, Niagara, Orleans, Northern Erie and Genesee counties are under a winter storm warning from 1 p.m. Sunday to 4 p.m. Wednesday, with 10 to 20 inches of snow expected. The greatest accumulations in this zone will fall across southern Niagara, southwestern Orleans, northern Erie and western Genesee counties, with significant snow occurring Sunday night through Monday and again Tuesday into Tuesday night.
Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Southern Erie counties face a winter storm warning beginning 7 a.m. Monday through 4 p.m. Wednesday. These areas, including the northern Chautauqua Ridge, Boston Hills and Buffalo southtowns, can expect 10 to 20 inches of snow, with rates of 2 inches per hour Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning.
Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will create blowing and drifting snow with whiteout conditions at times, making travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. The hazardous conditions are expected to impact commutes from Monday morning through Wednesday morning across the region.
Wind chill values will drop to zero to 10 below zero in most areas Monday night through Tuesday night, with some locations experiencing wind chills as low as 5 to 15 below zero. Gusty winds may down tree branches and cause isolated power outages throughout the warning period.
The National Weather Service warns that snowbands will oscillate with varying intensities across the region as the lake effect snow develops initially northeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario before shifting south Monday night through Tuesday.
