Major Lake-Effect Snow Hammering Great Lakes Snowbelts; Traffic Brought to a Standstill Near Buffalo

Chris Dolce
Published: January 5,2017
Heavy lake-effect snow has cranked up in the Great Lakes region and will continue into the weekend, leading to storm totals measured in feet for some locales. This includes a band of heavy lake-effect snow that impacted southern portions of the Buffalo metro area during the Thursday evening commute, bringing traffic to a standstill in some spots.

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In fact, snowplows were stuck in traffic Thursday evening in the Buffalo southtowns, adding insult to injury since some roads were unable to be cleared.
Snowfall rates of two inches per hour were ongoing Thursday evening in a snow band affecting areas east of Lake Ontario. Up to 29 inches of snow has already piled up in this latest round of lake-effect snow east of Lake Ontario in Copenhagen and Croghan, New York, on the Tug Hill Plateau, while up to 25 inches has fallen to the east of Lake Erie in Perrysburg, New York.
Michigan has also seen lake-effect snow since late Tuesday. In northern Lower Michigan, up to 14 inches fell near Alba.

Forecast: More Heavy Snow Ahead

With cold air flowing over the relatively warmer lake waters, lake-effect snow will persist in the Great Lakes through this weekend.
(MORE: How Lake-Effect Snow Forms)

Current Conditions and Radar

The heaviest snowfall totals will be found in the typical lake-effect snowbelts east of Lake Erie in southwest New York and northwest Pennsylvania, and east of Lake Ontario into New York's Tug Hill Plateau region. Snow bands will shift north and south at times as disturbances pass through the region, however.
One such disturbance allowed a heavy band of snow to lift northward into southern portions of the Buffalo metro area during the Thursday evening commute. However, the band has since shifted back south of Buffalo.
(FORECAST: Buffalo | Watertown, New York)
The lake-effect snow will continue this weekend east of Lakes Erie and Ontario. The heaviest totals and most organized snowfall will likely be east of Lake Ontario in the Tug Hill Plateau.

Additional Snowfall Through Saturday

Bands of lake-effect snow will also impact western/northern Lower Michigan and Upper Michigan through this weekend. The heaviest amounts will be in Upper Michigan and northern Lower Michigan, where a foot or more of additional snow will accumulate in some locales.
(FORECAST: Marquette, Michigan | Traverse City, Michigan)
Snow will be accompanied by periods of gusty winds at times in the Great Lakes, leading to blowing and drifting. This will create low visibility for travelers and could lead to accidents or multi-car pileups. As always, check weather conditions along your route before venturing out, and adjust your plans accordingly.
(INTERACTIVE: Radar and Weather Maps)

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