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A band of lake-effect snow stretching across northern Erie County is expected to remain relatively dry for another 24 hours or so, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters have increased the snow forecast for some areas around Buffalo, including the east and northeast suburbs, to between 50 and 55 inches by Sunday night.
Gale force winds will ease slightly Saturday, but will still be strong enough to create blizzard conditions into Saturday night, meteorologist John Hitchcock said.
Travel will be impossible for the next 24 hours in areas that see lake-level snow, Hitchcock said.
Friday, Dec. 23, 2022 The wind blows the holiday flag at Orchard Park.
(Updated Friday 6:15 pm)
The lake-effect band will probably shake a bit, Hitchcock said, but the worst of the storm will cover the Buffalo city to the airport and Cheektowaga areas, along with Lancaster, Clarence, Akron and the southern half of Amherst.
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A combination of heavy snow and persistent winds created whiteout conditions in Erie County.
There are reports of downed trees and power outages across the region. By midday, more than 30,000 households were without power in Erie County.
“Be cautious, especially with the travel ban,” National Weather Service meteorologist Phil Pandolfo urged.
Courtesy of the National Weather Service
Blizzard warnings from the National Weather Service are in effect for Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Chautauqua counties.
The Chautauqua warning is primarily for the area near Lake Erie, Hitchcock said.
Travel restrictions are in effect for Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties.
Wind chill temperatures are expected to drop to 20 to 25 below zero.
Strong winds, near 50 mph and gusts as high as 75 mph, are expected into the evening, causing impossible driving conditions and downing trees.
In addition, strong winds are causing a “seiche” on Lake Erie, pushing water up the lake shore and into the upper Niagara River. Areas along Lake Erie and along the Niagara River in Niagara, Erie and Chauqua counties are under a lakeshore flood warning from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
The weather service predicted storm surges of 15 to 20 feet on Lake Erie, and 19 to 24 feet on Lake Ontario. Very high wave action will cause significant shoreline erosion, and there will be freezing spray along the lakeshore, the weather service said.
A growing “bomb storm” has issued warnings for tens of millions of people from Washington state to Maryland, the National Weather Service said. The storm will affect most of the country, but the most serious impact will be the storms in the Midwest on Thursday and Friday. CNN Meteorologist Jennifer Gray has the details.
Winds will decrease slightly, but gusts will continue to form, with gusts up to 40 mph, and gusts as high as 60 mph. A high of 15 will also continue for the day in the Buffalo metro area.
Wind chills will remain as low as 25 degrees below zero.
Heavy lake-effect snow and wind will continue overnight. Snow is expected to continue blowing.
The tornado warning is set to expire at 7 a.m. Sunday.
By Christmas morning, the lake-effect band should turn south, possibly over Southtown. The snow is expected to continue through Tuesday.
— News staff reporters Stephen T. Watson, Harold McNeil and Samantha Chrisman contributed to this story.
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