Arctic Blast Brings Lake-Effect Snow, Freezing Temperatures, and Hazardous Conditions to Northeast and South
An Arctic blast sweeping across the United States this weekend is causing severe lake-effect snow in states like Pennsylvania and New York, while bringing freezing temperatures to parts of the South.
Winter weather alerts, including lake-effect snow warnings, have been issued for areas of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, with some warnings in effect until Monday evening.
As cold air moves over the warmer waters of the Great Lakes, intense lake-effect snow bands are expected to blanket communities from Cleveland, Ohio, to Buffalo, New York.
The Arctic air mass is also pushing below-freezing temperatures as far south as Florida’s panhandle, leading to freeze alerts for over 13 million people in nine southern states.
The heaviest snow totals are predicted in Watertown, New York, where 3 to 5 feet of snow are expected. These narrow and intense snow bands could create near-whiteout conditions, making travel dangerous or nearly impossible.
A second band of heavy snow will mainly affect areas south of Buffalo, with Dunkirk, New York, expecting over 3 feet of snow this weekend.
In response to the hazardous weather, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in nearly a dozen western counties, warning of road closures, travel disruptions, and widespread power outages. Erie County officials, which includes Buffalo, urged residents to avoid driving if possible, citing the severity of the storm.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz emphasized the seriousness of the situation. “This is going to be a serious storm, especially in the southern parts of Erie County,” he said. “If you don’t have to drive, stay home. It’s not worth the risk.”
Areas such as Eden, Evans, and Hamburg, as well as smaller towns like Angola and Farnham, could receive 3 to 4 feet of snow, making roads nearly impassable. Northern Erie County, including Buffalo, is expected to receive a few inches of snow.
Officials also warned of whiteout conditions that will make driving extremely hazardous. “We’re talking about conditions where you can’t see anything while driving,” Poloncarz noted. Some roads, including parts of Interstate 90 near the Pennsylvania border, have already been closed.
Buffalo Bills fans attending Sunday night’s game at Highmark Stadium should also prepare for heavy snow. The county expects 20 to 30 inches of snow to accumulate at the stadium before the game, though the team has planned snow removal efforts. However, getting to the game could still be challenging, with wind chills in the teens expected.
Poloncarz assured the public that while the storm will be tough, Western New Yorkers are experienced in handling such extreme weather. “We’ll get through this if we’re careful,” he said.