First major lake effect snow of the season on the way!
Who will be doing the shoveling?
For the past few weeks we've been hearing about snow storms out west. Granted, when you go up a mile high in Colorado it is alot colder, so it's not a complete surprise they've been getting clobbered by winter weather. But, that snowy pattern out west signals cold air pushing down from Canada and we know that eventually some of that cold air moves over us.
Around here, when you take a cold airmass like that and cross the relatively warmer waters of Lake Ontario, that spells lake effect snow, and it was only a matter of time before our first significant lake snow event was in the cards.
If you live directly east of Lake Ontario, we're talking Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and northern Oneida counties and especially the Tug Hill, you may want to get your shovels and snow plows ready for Friday night and Saturday. Unless there is some major change between now and then, this will be your first major snow of the season.
As of this writing, we'll have the cold air (temperatures in the 20s a few thousand feet above us come Friday night), flowing over the warmer 48 degree waters of Lake Ontario. That spells snow. Combine that snow machine with, for the most part a direct westerly wind for the better part of 24-36 hours, and that allows the lake snows to pile up.
Again, providing no major changes until then, the heaviest snows (but not all of the snow) remains north of Syracuse and north of the Thruway. The Tug Hill could see a foot or more with lesser amounts at lower elevations, especially right by the lake shore where rain mixed in could cut amounts. To the south, downtown Syracuse south, amounts should be much less with more in the way of snowshowers and flurries, some streaming all the way in from Lake Erie with that brisk westerly wind.
Speaking of wind, wind chill reading Friday Night and Saturday will likely only be in the teens and 20s, so bundle out if you are out shopping.
Keep checking back here for updates and be sure to catch our updated, detailed forecasts on Channels 3, 5 CW-6 and cnycentral TV.
A few other links you might find of interest:
Great Lakes water temperature site: http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/glsea/glsea.gif
The Priscilla Mahar Animal Welfare Foundation: http://www.pmawf.org
All Weather Facebook site. Search Precision Weather Service and "like"
