A lake effect snow storm battered the Metro Buffalo area late Thursday afternoon, just as the evening commute was getting underway. The heavy snowfall tied up traffic on area roads and expressways.Bumper to bumper traffic was reported as people headed home on Main Street, Delaware Avenue and Elmwood Avenue. Traffic on the mainline Thruway and area expressways was also backed up by the weather and also by accidents. The Skyway was at a standstill because of an accident.
The lake snow bands were moving south late Thursday. A lake effect snow warning continues from Buffalo southward. Additional accumulations from the most persistent lake snows could total nine inches overnight, again this will be mostly south of Buffalo.
As of 9pm, accumulations at the airport weather station had reached nearly six inches. Ten inches fell in Alden while a Buffalo snow-spotter reported 7.5 inches.
Some areas south of Buffalo have already received more than two feet of snow this week, and forecasters say another foot or more is likely by the times the storms taper off on Friday.
"We're seeing some impressive lake snows," says National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Zaff.
Snow totals this week have already totaled as high as two feet so far in areas like Boston and Colden.
A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday for all of Western New York. Snow is forecast to continue through the weekend.