ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A Yellow Alert is in effect Wednesday night into the day on Thursday for accumulating snow and snow covered roads. This may end up being our largest snowfall so far this season, but amounts will very greatly from north to south. The area-wide snow will accumulate generally 1-3″ in the Finger Lakes by morning, and a 2-4″ accumulation closer to Rochester and points north and west. This will tend to be a heavier, wetter snow, with temperatures initially hovering near freezing.
Temperatures plummet on Thursday, and that will do two things: up the fluff factor of the snow, and boost the influence from Lake Ontario. The area-wide snow will pull away through the morning, but lake enhancement and eventually lake effect will take over. This will add another 3-6″ through the day, mainly north of the Thruway. This snow will be fluffier, and easier to clear. But it’ll be coming down moderate at times, keeping many roads snow covered and slick. The morning commute will likely have the greatest impacts, but another band of lake effect will likely move back through for the evening commute. Both commutes will likely be slower on Thursday, so take your time and give yourselves some extra time to get where you’re going.
Lake effect snow will be winding down Thursday night into Friday morning, with just an additional in or two closest to the lake. Meanwhile, temperatures will be falling through the teens with wind chills below zero by Thursday afternoon and evening.
