Lake-effect snow hits Buffalo as NFL fans fear another delayed Bills playoff game

Heavy lake-effect snowfall is once again hitting areas downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, including Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday as arctic air flows over the still nearly ice-free Great Lakes , will continue to produce accumulations measured in feet.

Very heavy snowfall of 2 to 4 inches per hour is expected in the center of these snow bands, resulting in a significant event with localized storm total accumulations of 3 feet or more, the FOX Forecast Center said.

Buffalo International Airport reported 3 inches of snow in just 34 minutes Wednesday morning, a snowfall rate of more than 5 inches per hour.

Heavy snowfall in Erie County, New York, led authorities to declare a series of travel bans early Wednesday morning. County Executive Mark Poloncarz reported that roads in Hamburg, Orchard Park, Lancaster and other communities were closed. As a result, all Buffalo county and city offices were also closed for the day.

Footage recorded from a snowplow outside Buffalo early Wednesday morning showed the “very difficult conditions” any driver would face, with road signs nearly buried in the snow.

The snow will affect the same areas affected by lake effect snow last weekend. Overall, lake effect-prone areas of New York and Pennsylvania will receive between 1 and 3 feet of new snow. Between the two events, some locations may see 5 feet or more of snow.

The area between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie is expected to be hit by a snow storm this weekend. FOX Weather

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Heavy snow falling from Lake Erie

The lake effect band off Lake Erie will dump several inches to feet of snow around the Buffalo area throughout Wednesday. The northern edge of the band will likely reach as far north as south into Niagara County, the FOX Forecast Center said.

“As the snow will be fluffy with less water content, winds gusting over 35 mph later Wednesday will produce blizzards and drifting snow with possible whiteout conditions at times,” the National Weather Service office in Buffalo wrote. .

Large snow accumulations are also likely.

Drifting north into the snow band will give Buffalo Southtowns a temporary break from heavy snowfall.

Directional winds will shift westward through Wednesday night. This will result in the lake band moving south through the Buffalo metropolitan area and returning to the Southtowns. It will finally subside on Thursday as the disturbance passes from coast to coast, the FOX Forecast Center said.

Areas around Lake Ontario are likely to receive 1 to 2 inches of snow. FOX Weather

Snow rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour likely off Lake Ontario

West-southwest winds should place the heart of Lake Ontario’s band of lake-effect snow in the Watertown and Fort Drum areas of New York, where it will persist through the day on Wednesday.

Snow rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour appear likely. Fluffy snow and winds gusting over 35 mph will create blizzards and drifting snow with possible whiteout conditions at times.

Wednesday night, directing winds will shift to the west, causing the lake band to shift south of Watertown and focus on Tug Hill Plateau.

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The heaviest snowfall on the lake will likely occur Wednesday night, with snowfalls of more than 3 inches per hour possible. Heavy snow will continue through much of the day Thursday before ending Thursday night.

The snow will likely be gone by the time the Bills game begins. AP

Region still buried in snow from a previous storm

For residents of Western New York, this week’s storm comes on top of heavy snowfall over the weekend.

Video from the City of Hamburg, New York, Office of Emergency Services on Sunday shows a car driving slowly through the snow with other drivers’ headlights barely visible in the distance.

Heavy snow covered Hoak’s Lakeshore restaurant in Hamburg with icicles, captured by @weather_buffalo’s Richard Hulburd. Writing in X On Monday, Hulburd said the scene felt like it “went straight out of the movie Frozen.”

The restaurant described the weather as a “little dose of ice castle layer.”

Is another postponement of the NFL playoffs possible?

All eyes will turn to Orchard Park’s Highmark Stadium on Sunday when the Buffalo Bills take on the Kansas City Chiefs at 6:30 pm EST. The NFL and fans are hoping not to repeat the postponement of last weekend’s Wild Card game to Monday due to near-blizzard conditions.

Even on Monday, the crowd had to wade through feet of snow to cheer on the home team. This happened despite the team asking fans to come shovel snow from the stadium for $20 an hour and free meals.

“This was the first game in NFL history without assigned seating, but you had to clear your own spot,” said FOX weather forecaster Ian Oliver. “It was every man for himself.”

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The heavier snow appears to stop when the Bills face the Chiefs on Sunday, but light snow is still possible.

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Source: vtt.edu.vn

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