Happy Thanksgiving! Here is a to-the-point quick update on snow amounts and travel conditions from lake effect snow today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday).
A quick word about snow maps first!
Snow maps during lake effect snow events are only so useful. It is virtually impossible to capture the tiny, localized details in a regional map, especially when the snow bands are narrow (less than 5-10 miles across) and constantly moving, stalling, then moving again.
As such, this snow map is meant to be a generalized guide. It should not be surprising if a given location within a zone sees more… or less… than the map and its nearby neighbors. But, the map is useful for giving a solid understanding of where the heaviest snow will be, and to what extent.
With that out of the way…
Thursday Snow & Travel
Lake effect snow off Lake Erie is ongoing across southwestern New York, including Wyoming and Allegany counties. Periods of heavy snow will persist in these areas throughout the day, making travel for areas west of I-390 difficult.
For most of the Finger Lakes region, however, travel during the daytime hours will be easy going. Scattered snow showers are likely, but with little to no accumulation and only wet roads.
As the sun sets and temperatures drop, the lake effect should strengthen and move further into the Finger Lakes. Squally weather will become especially possible across the Southern Tier and higher elevations west of Keuka Lake. Several inches may fall in these areas, and there could be some sloppy roads to contend with.
Again, though, most of the rest of the region will only see sporadic snow showers with generally clear roads.
Friday Snow & Travel
Winds will shift during the predawn hours, sending lake effect off Lake Ontario south toward the northeastern Finger Lakes.
One or more narrow but intense bands of lake effect are likely, arriving in and around Syracuse in the 7-9 AM time frame at the latest.
These localized bands will wobble about the northeastern quadrant of the region, leading to highly variable snow amounts and travel conditions. Within the bands, travel will become quite difficult.
Most areas south of Syracuse should only see an inch or two, but much of it may come quickly.
To the west, a broader spray of lake effect snow will continue across the western Southern Tier, especially into Allegany County. The snow will not make it as far inland as it will later tonight.
There will be little change to the overall pattern Friday evening, with a gradual reduction in snow Friday night into early Saturday. By sunrise Saturday, only limited snow showers over the far northeastern Finger Lakes are expected to linger.
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