SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Just as we ring in the start of a new year, Central New York prepares for a return of harsh winter weather with strong wind gusts, heavy localized lake-effect snowfall, and bitter cold temperatures. As of 1 PM Wednesday there are Lake-effect snow WARNINGS and Advisories in effect for much of the area including Syracuse. These alerts are in effect for a long duration, through 4 PM Sunday.
It’s been a while since Syracuse has seen a snow accumulation to the scale that is expected tomorrow through this weekend. Our next big weather maker is primarily the heavy lake effect snow bands behind the area-wide storm system that exits later today. As the temperature drops with a west to northwest wind flow, the danger zone will lie between Oswego County and the Syracuse area, from northern Cayuga County into Madison and Oneida Counties. Some spots in eastern Oswego county and northwestern Oneida county will measure snowfall in feet if the bands stay over any area for a prolonged period with heavy snow,
Here is a breakdown of the forecast and snowfall through the weekend with maps showing accumulation amounts:
WEDNESDAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY): Cloudy with light rain showers or drizzle and higher elevation wet snow in the morning, transitioning to widespread steady snow during the afternoon. For higher elevations the snow accumulates 1-3″ by the evening. But at lower elevations, the change to snow comes during the afternoon with only a trace-1″ and melting on the roadways. It will be turning colder and breezy. Wind: NNW 3-10 then W 10-20, gusts to 35 MPH. High: 41 late in the morning and then falling.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, windy, and colder with area-wide wet snow tapering off in the evening. Then by midnight, there will be more localized lake effect snow bands to the east and southeast of Lake Ontario. Only a minor snow accumulation for Syracuse with some slushy roads, maybe 1-2″. But at higher elevations, there will be more, closer to 3-6″ new snow, and on the Tug Hill expect 6-12″ tonight alone. Wind: W 10-25 with gusts to 40 MPH. Low: 32.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with lake effect snow coming into CNY, to the southeast of Lake Ontario in the morning and midday. This will sometimes be heavy snowfall with another few inches during the day. This then slides to the east of the lake by the evening. Back to seasonable chilly and windy conditions! Wind: 15-25 with gusts to 40 MPH. High: 34 then falling late in the day. Low: 26.
FRIDAY: Lake effect snow east of Lake Ontario into Oswego, northern Cayuga, southern Lewis, and Oneida counties will be heavy at times. This band breaks up some and drops closer to the Syracuse area in the afternoon before strengthening again in the evening. Mostly cloudy to partly sunny, and mostly dry to the south and southwest of Onondaga County. It will be feeling cold and breezy. High: 30. Low: 20.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with lake effect snow in the immediate CNY area, southeast of Lake Ontario. Several additional inches of accumulation are likely. Cold and breezy with wind chills near 0 degrees. High: 25. Low: 18.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with morning and midday lake-effect snow in the immediate CNY area, tapering to flurries by the late afternoon or early evening. Wind chills at times will be below 0 degrees. It’s quite cold and breezy, but winds ease some Sunday afternoon. High: 24. Low: 13.
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