Up to a foot of lake-effect snow to bury communities in western New York

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

December 31,2015; 12:42PM,EST

 

 

Chilly air will filter into the northeastern United States and allow for bands of lake-effect snow into the first days of 2016.
The lake-effect snow machine will begin to ramp up downwind of the Great Lakes early on Thursday morning, with the heaviest and most organized bands streaming from lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario.

The warm Winter is over

According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Zapolski, the first bands of snow will develop on Thursday morning and continue to train over the same locations into early on Saturday before winding down late on Saturday morning.

The heaviest snow is expected to fall on Thursday night into the first part of New Year's Day.
A widespread 3 to 6 inches of snow is forecast downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario with narrow swaths of 6 to 12 inches possible.
Snow will likely reach 2 feet across the Tug Hill Plateau in upstate New York.
"The Tug Hill will get hit with the highest snow amounts," Zapolski said.

Erie, Pennsylvania, and Pulaski and Watertown, New York will see periods of heavy snow and treacherous travel.
Outside of the heaviest bands, lighter snow will extend into Cleveland, Syracuse and Buffalo, New York, and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
This snow will come at a time when many are hitting the roadways to attend New Year's Eve firework displays and celebrations.
Motorists should expect difficult and slippery travel along Interstate 90 from Cleveland to Buffalo, Interstate 81 from Syracuse to Watertown, New York, and western portions of Interstate 86.
Travelers should allow for extra time to reach their New Year's celebrations.
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Despite being a disruption to travelers, the snow will be a welcome sight for winter sports enthusiasts. Ski resorts should get a boost for the first weekend of 2016 thanks to the fresh powder and temperatures remaining at or below freezing.
A brief lull in the snow is expected during the day on Saturday before a new storm crosses the Great Lakes on Sunday and revitalizes the lake-effect snow bands.
"This last round of lake-effect snow will last into late Monday morning before shutting off for good," Zapolski said.
High pressure will move in on Monday afternoon and bring much-drier weather to the Great Lakes into the middle of next week.