By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Heavy Lake Effect snows and strong winds continue to pound the region Sunday. A Lake Effect snow warning is posted for all of Western New York. It will be in effect for Niagara and Orleans Counties until midnight and until 4 a.m. Monday for Northern Erie and Genesee Counties.
The warning will remain in effect for Wyoming County until 7 a.m. Monday and for Southern Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus, Allegany Counties until 7 p.m. Monday.
The National Weather Service says the biggest impact from this system will be the strong winds. It is causing significant blowing and drifting snow and frequent whiteout conditions. The worst conditions will occur within the Lake snows east of the Lakes. Heavy Lake effect snows are producing severe winter travel conditions Sunday night. Some areas will even experience blizzard conditions at times.
Heavy Lake effect snow squalls will continue across all of the metro Buffalo area east to Genesee County through early Sunday evening. Snowfall rates in some of the heavy bands of Lake Effect snow are two inches per hour. Winds are gusting up to 45-miles an hour. This will make travel extremely hazardous through Sunday evening. Forecasters warn motorists to be prepared for severe winter driving conditions.
The City of Buffalo and Genesee County have issued travel advisories. In Buffalo, the Skyway was shutdown Sunday in both directions until further notice. The New York State Thruway Authority also warns of hazardous driving conditions.
Snow fall amounts broke records Sunday. 7.4 inches of snow feel in Buffalo, breaking snowfall for this date set back in 1914. But some higher snow fall amounts are being recorded in nearby suburbs. Kenmore received 9.2 inches of new snow fall. Also in Erie County, 8 inches fell in Tonawanda and Elma. At the Buffalo Niagara International Airport 7.4 inches of snow was recorded.