Syracuse, N.Y. — As the massive winter storm that could affect up to 200 million Americans starts to rumble across the country, the forecasts for Upstate New York are getting clearer.
Forecasters are increasingly confident that all of Upstate New York will get hit with snow, with everybody getting at least 7 inches and some areas up to 15 inches. The storm will track from southwest to northeast, with snow starting in Western New York before dawn on Sunday and in the Capital Region about 8 a.m.
“Confidence is high that most of the area will receive a foot or more of snow,” said the National Weather Service.
The storm is originating in the Southwest with an atmospheric river pouring in from the Pacific Ocean. As it crosses the South, it will pick up more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and bank left at the East Coast, heading toward the Northeast.
Snow and ice could cripple much of the mid-South in places like Nashville and Dallas. The storm will move relatively slowly, which means it will have more time to drop rain and snow.
There’s no ice in the forecast for Upstate New York. By the time the storm clashes with the bitterly cold air pouring in from Canada, the precipitation in the Northeast will be all snow.
A winter storm warning is in effect for much of the region, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency due to the cold and snow.
Here’s a look at what to expect over the next couple of days as the storm unfolds.
Today: We’ll see the coldest day in nearly two years. Syracuse hit minus 7 by 6 a.m., the first time the temperature has dipped that low since February 2023.
The wind chill dipped to 18 below zero early this morning. A cold weather advisory is in effect until 10 a.m.
Sunday morning. Light snow starts to fall before daybreak, then gets more intense during the morning. Most places will see an inch or so by noon.
Sunday afternoon. The heart of the storm reaches Upstate New York in the early afternoon, with snowfall rates approaching 1 to 2 inches per hour. The bulk of the snow from this storm will fall from about 1 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday.
Syracuse could get a foot of snow in that 12-hour span.
Driving on Sunday could be very difficult, the weather service warns. While there will be little wind to blow around the snow, it will fall so quickly that snowplows won’t be able to keep up.
Because of the bitter cold, the snow will be very light and fluffy, containing about half as much water as a typical snowfall.
The following maps show estimated snowfall rates for six-hour periods beginning early Sunday. These maps are for the region covered by the weather service’s Binghamton forecast office.
Snowfall will be light as the winter storm reaches Upstate New York early Sunday. This map shows the expected snowfall totals from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.National Weather ServiceAs the winter storm engulfs Upstate New York Sunday afternoon, snowfall rates will increase dramatically. This map shows the estimated snowfall from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday.National Weather ServiceSnowfall from the winter storm this weekend will be most intense on Sunday. This map shows the estimated snowfall from to 7 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday.National Weather Service
Monday morning: The snowfall rate begins to slow early in the morning, but 2 to 3 more inches could fall between 1 and 7 a.m.
The intensity and timing of the storm could lead to school delays or closures. Be sure to check our weather page.
Some events are already being canceled, including Syracuse University’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. event originally scheduled for Sunday.
Later in the week: Some lake effect snow could develop in Central New York as the storm pulls away. The week is expected to be the coldest in years, with high temperatures not exceeding 20 degrees through at least next weekend.
