Cold Wave Triggers Lake-Effect Snow
As colder air pours in across the Great Lakes and the wind shifts direction, a significant lake-effect snow event will continue into the first part of the weekend.
Buffalo finally got its first measurable snow of the season, thanks to this wave of cold air and lake-effect event.
This map shows the AccuWeather.com forecast for lake-effect snow from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Saturday. The bands of snow accumulation will set up south of where they were during the day Friday.
A reinforcing push of cold air will roll across the Great Lakes causing bands of snow to line up with the wind into the first part of the weekend.
Bands of snow often shift around as the wind changes direction. Even a subtle shift in the wind can cause bands of snow to clobber some communities with several inches of snow per hour, while leaving other locations with patchy clouds and just a few flurries.
Over lakes Erie and Ontario this shift will be most dramatic. The northeastern ends of both lakes were hit for a time Friday due to southwesterly winds.
Buffalo and Watertown, N.Y., received snow for several hours Friday. As winds shift from southwest to west to northwest tonight, the bands of snow will migrate south of the cities.
Marginal temperatures are had a positive impact on roads in the Buffalo and Watertown areas Friday. Much of the snow is melted as it fell on road surfaces.
During tonight and Saturday, more of a west to northwest wind is in store. This will cause the bands of snow to set up south of Buffalo and Watertown.
As air and road surface temperatures drop tonight, untreated wet areas will become icy and where the bands are hitting, the snow will accumulate on all surfaces.
Places from northeastern Ohio to northwestern Pennsylvania will be in the bands the snow tonight. This includes the northeastern suburbs of Cleveland, the city of Erie and Jamestown, N.Y., off Lake Erie.
Other locations that should do well with lake-effect snow tonight include southwestern Ontario, downwind of Lake Huron.
Flakes will fly to the lee of lakes Michigan and Superior as well.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 100° | Smyrna, TN |
| Low | 15° | Sunset Crater, AZ |
| Precip | 3.99" | Wadena, MN |
WeatherWhys®
Hail is much more common during the months of May and June compared to July and August. The main reason is the fact that the freezing level is usually higher during July and August as pockets of cold air in the upper atmosphere are less common as the jet stream weakens and retreats farther north.
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