Gusty winds in the present day, main lake-effect snow to comply with

The busiest journey window of the yr is colliding with an aggressive early-season sample throughout Upstate New York. A strong chilly entrance is sweeping throughout the state in the present day (Wednesday), and it’ll produce a one-two punch of excessive winds in the present day adopted by important lake-effect snow for elements of the area beginning very early Thursday and lasting into Friday night time.

Here’s a have a look at what to anticipate within the Finger Lakes, Central New York, and the remainder of Upstate New York, primarily based in your journey plans.

FLX & CNY: Wind first, then lake-effect snow impacts

Today: Strong winds and scattered showers

A pointy chilly entrance crosses the area this afternoon. Expect:

• Southwest winds ramping up rapidly behind the entrance.
• Widespread gusts 40–50 mph, with remoted 55 mph gusts potential in downslope zones.
• A damaged line of showers—primarily rain—producing temporary stronger gusts.
• Temperatures fall sharply tonight.

The Finger Lakes is squarely contained in the broader Wind Advisory zone from NWS Buffalo and Binghamton, particularly Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Ontario, and Seneca counties.

Tonight into Thanksgiving morning: First lake-effect bands brush the area

Initial lake-effect growth begins this night west/northwest of the Finger Lakes—Niagara, Orleans, Northern Erie, Genesee—and weak, fast-moving bands could clip elements of the northern Finger Lakes in a single day. Early impacts embrace:

• 2–5 inches potential in Northern Erie and Genesee.
• Slushy roads, poor visibility in slim bands.
• Gusts as much as 50 mph persevering with in a single day.

Thanksgiving Day: Bigger journey impacts keep west and north, however windy and colder

Winds stay a serious subject Thursday:

• Widespread gusts 35–50 mph by the day.
• Blowing and drifting snow in areas affected by lake-effect bands.
• In the Finger Lakes correct, situations will probably be blustery however largely manageable outdoors of grazing bands.

Lake Ontario’s major band stays north of Oneida County by most of Thanksgiving. Lake Erie’s band shifts nicely south of Buffalo by morning and stays centered on Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Wyoming—not the Finger Lakes core.

For many of the Finger Lakes/central counties:
Cold, windy, scattered snow showers—however not the high-impact zone.

Friday: Highest-risk journey interval regionwide

The strongest lake-effect bands arrange Friday:

• A strong Lake Ontario band drops south throughout Watertown in a single day and into the Tug Hill Thursday night time.
• By Friday morning the band intensifies dramatically over Oswego County, then shifting into Wayne and northern Cayuga.

Expect:

• Snow charges over 2 inches per hour potential.
• Rapid deterioration of I-81 and Route 104.
• Wayne and northern Cayuga counties may even see 7–10 inches.

This is the window when Finger Lakes journey towards Rochester or Oswego might develop into considerably disrupted.

What alerts are energetic proper now?

Lake Effect Snow Warnings

1 AM Thursday – 1 AM Saturday

• Jefferson
• Lewis
• Wyoming
• Chautauqua
• Cattaraugus
• Southern Erie

4 PM Thursday – 7 AM Saturday

1 AM Thursday – 7 PM Friday

• Southeastern St. Lawrence (Star Lake, South Colton space)

4 PM Thursday – 1 AM Saturday

• Hamilton
• Northern Herkimer

Winter Weather Advisories

Tonight by Thursday morning/afternoon (timing varies):

• Niagara (7 PM–7 AM)
• Orleans (7 PM–7 AM)
• Northern Erie (9 PM–1 PM Thu)
• Genesee (9 PM–1 PM Thu)

Thursday–Saturday:

• Potter (PA), Elk (PA), Cameron (PA): 7 AM Thu – 1 AM Sat
• Southwestern St. Lawrence: 1 AM Thu – 7 PM Fri

Wind Advisories

Today by late Thursday night time:

• Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Southern Erie (midday Wed–1 AM Fri)
• Monroe, Wayne, Northern Cayuga (3 PM Wed–1 AM Fri)
• Oswego, Jefferson (5 PM Wed–1 AM Fri)

Lakeshore Flood Advisory

7 PM Wednesday – 10 AM Thursday:

• Northern Erie
• Chautauqua
• Southern Erie

Western New York: Major journey disruptions doubtless Thursday–Friday

Western New York is the core of the damaging lake-effect snow setup.

Key zones

• Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Wyoming: 10–20 inches in persistent bands.
• Southern Erie: Included within the warning, with important blowing/drifting.
• Buffalo metro: Band sweeps by tonight however strikes rapidly—restricted accumulation there.

Hazards

• Whiteout situations in slim bands Thursday night time–Friday.
• 40–50+ mph wind gusts producing drifting and near-zero visibility.
• Difficult to inconceivable journey on:
  • I-90 from the PA line to Hamburg
  • Route 60
  • Route 219
  • Higher terrain within the Southern Tier

Anyone touring west from the Finger Lakes towards WNY Thursday night time or Friday ought to put together for excessive variability—clear one mile, zero visibility the subsequent.

North Country: Hazardous journey late Thursday into Friday

A unique however nonetheless high-impact lake-effect occasion performs out right here.

Jefferson & Lewis Counties

• Under a Lake Effect Snow Warning by early Saturday.
• Totals 10–20 inches, strongest Thursday night time into Friday.
• Intense squalls dropping south throughout Watertown Thursday night.

St. Lawrence County

• Southeastern St. Lawrence: Lake Effect Snow Warning.
• Southwestern St. Lawrence: Winter Weather Advisory.
• 4–10 inches in warning space; 1–8 inches in advisory space.
• Strong winds: 30–40 mph gusts.

Major impacts:

• Treacherous journey on Routes 3, 11, and 56.
• Whiteout potential within the Adirondack foothills.
• Blowing snow by Friday night.

Bottom line for Thanksgiving journey

Finger Lakes & Central NY

• Wind is the principle subject in the present day, with gusts as much as 50 mph.
• Minimal issues throughout the day Thursday, besides areas brushing lake bands.
• Friday is the highest-risk day, particularly if driving towards Rochester, Oswego, or the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Western New York

• Most harmful situations in Upstate NY Thursday night time–Friday.
• Heavy, high-impact lake-effect snow with whiteouts and 40–50 mph winds.
• Travel could develop into inconceivable in elements of the Southern Tier and south of Buffalo.

North Country

• Heavy lake-effect snow late Thursday by Friday.
• Hazardous journey in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

Anyone touring west or north from the Finger Lakes ought to anticipate steadily worsening situations Thursday night time into Friday. If you will get the place you’re going by noon Thursday, you’ll dodge the worst of it.

---

Get the most recent headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start out your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad).

---