New York Snow A Potentially Historic Storm Hits Western New York State Bringing Treacherous Snowfall That Could Damage Infrastructure

  Thursday’s heavy snowfall that battered parts of western New York state will continue into Friday, when the worst of the potentially historic storm could bring downed trees and property damage.   

  “Snowfall will cause near-zero visibility, difficult to impossible travel, infrastructure damage and paralyzing the hardest-hit communities,” the National Weather Service said Thursday.  “Very cold air will accompany this event, with temperatures 20 degrees below normal forecast by the weekend.”   

  Areas east of Lakes Erie and Ontario could see snowfall at a rate of more than 3 inches per hour, with occasional thunderstorms and gusty winds, the weather service warned.   

  “It is this level of snow falling at this intensity that is creating a dangerous lack of visibility on the roads,” New York Gov. Kathy Hotchul said Thursday as she declared a state of emergency for 11 counties.   

  “When it’s falling at this rate, it’s almost impossible to clear the way for safe travel,” Hochul said.  “It won’t be safe for a long time for motorists to get back on the roads.”   

  Commercial traffic has been closed since Thursday afternoon on about 130 miles of the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) in the Rochester and Buffalo area to the Pennsylvania border, Hochul’s office said.  In addition, other segments of major interstates have also been closed, including the 90, 290 and 990.   

  As she urged residents to be cautious this weekend, Hochul described the storm as a “major, significant” snowfall event that could be as life-threatening as the November 2014 blizzard that killed 20 people in the area Buffalo.   

  In addition, officials in New York’s Erie County – which includes Buffalo – also declared a state of emergency and banned driving as of Thursday night.   

  “The snow from the lake (the storm) is very heavy and can cause downed tree limbs and damage to vehicles, property or power lines.  Be careful where you park and be aware of your surroundings if you go out,” Erie County officials wrote online.   

  The heaviest snow of the storm is expected to hit the Buffalo, New York area, where more than 4 feet could accumulate, making a historic forecast not seen in more than 20 years.  The city’s highest three-day snowfall is 56.1 inches, which occurred in December 2001, according to CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller.   

  And given the rapid rate of snowfall, Buffalo can see a month’s worth of snow in just a few hours.  That could make this month the snowiest November since 2000, when a total of 45.6 inches fell in the city during the entire month, Miller added.   

  Already, residents of Williamstown in Oswego County near Lake Ontario have seen 24 inches of snow since Thursday afternoon, according to the weather service.   

  In neighboring Oneida County, some areas received 14 inches of snow in the last 24 hours as of Thursday afternoon, according to the weather service.   

Here’s the latest on the movement of heavy lake effect snow bands off Lake Erie and Ontario. The band will reduce visibility below a quarter mile and produce snowfall rates of 3 inches/hour. pic.twitter.com/Z6g9yfB2ZJ — NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) November 18, 2022 Friday alone could bring more than 2 feet of snow, which would make it one of the three snowiest days on record in Buffalo, according to Miller.

  The National Weather Service will continue to result in extremely difficult travel this afternoon for the Buffalo metro area east to Batavia, as well as Oswego County outside of Lake Erie.  in Buffalo said Thursday night.   

  Lake effect snow occurs when very cold and windy conditions form over a relatively warm lake — meaning the lake temperature can be 40 degrees while the air is zero degrees, Miller explained.  The temperature clash creates instability, which allows the most extreme winter weather to occur.   

  Due to a weather emergency, Sunday’s NFL game at Orchard Park, New York, between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns has been moved to Detroit, the league announced Thursday.   

  About 6 million people in five Great Lakes states — from Wisconsin to New York — were under snow warnings Thursday, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said.  Lake effect snow will continue through Sunday in upwind areas of the Great Lakes, according to the National Weather Service.   

  Other areas affected by the storm include parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and western Lower Peninsula, where gusty winds and heavy snow will also cause near-zero visibility and unsafe travel conditions.