ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. (NCC News) — Lake effect snowfall that began last Friday could reach up to six feet by the time the National Weather Service’s warning expires Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The weather service claims that Erie County in particular can see anywhere from 2 to 7 inches throughout the day, with the high being just 36 degrees. Snow showers should continue even after the warning ends, with an accumulation of an inch possible.
Western New York has been under a State of Emergency since Sunday afternoon. The counties placed in a State of Emergency by Governor Kathy Hochul include Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Allegany and Wyoming. Schools and higher education institutions across the region are closed. And a return in the near future remains murkey ahead of another round of snow later this week.
Although Tuesday provides a break from heavy lake effect snow, the National Weather Service has already issued a seperate winter storm watch starting late Wednesday afternoon. Beginning at 4 p.m. tomorrow and ending at 4 a.m. Friday, accumulations of at least a foot are expected, with wind gusts as high as 45 mph to boot. These snow showers are projected to be at their worst during the day Thursday, with 4 to 8 inches of “blowing snow” in the cards before 4 p.m. Chances of snow in Erie County drop to 50% by Friday and 40% over the weekend.