By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Storm Warning for the region. The warning is posted until 12noon Wednesday for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. A winter storm warning begins for the rest of Western New York from 12 noon Tuesday through 12noon Wednesday.
The storm is expected to produce an icy mix of sleet and wet snow. Buffalo Weather Service Metrologist David Thomas says light snow will be turning into sleet late this afternoon and tonight.
It could create significant and potentially damaging accumulations of one-half to one inch of ice across the region.
Forecasters say they storm system will move up from the Tennessee Valley into the Ohio Valley by tonight. But the Weather Service says a more prolonged period of sleet and wet snow could be beneficial in decreasing the amounts of freezing rain. It will depend on the track the storm takes once it arrives.
The icy build up on trees and branches could cause some to snap and effect power lines. That could cause power outages. The freezing rain is expected to create hazardous driving conditions. WBFO News will be tracking the storm and will keep you posted with updates.