CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY – Driving conditions will be down-right nasty, especially in the heavier parts of the band. Visibility will be greatly reduced from drifting and blowing snow.
We’ve already had reports from earlier this afternoon of near-whiteout conditions along New York State Route 60 and Interstate-90 on the New York State Thruway in northern Chautauqua and southern Erie Counties. If you are going out, you must slow down and use your winter driving skills. Lake effect is very localized, and the driving conditions can vary greatly in just a few miles.
This will be plow worthy for some, shovel worthy for some others, and just a white coating for the rest. The highest amounts will be along the higher terrain of southern Erie County, northern Chautauqua County, and extreme northwestern Cattaraugus County.
We’ve had snow totals coming in from the Weather Service of a foot or more in areas along the Chautauqua Ridge and the Boston Hills. We are expecting another four-to-eight inches on top of that tonight in northern areas, leading to totals between 13-19 inches, with about an inch or two down near the state line, before the band falls apart by Friday afternoon.