Syracuse, New York — According to the most recent weather service forecasts, a strong lake effect snow system is approaching the Watertown area and could dump up to 6 feet of snow through Monday.
Furthermore, the snow has already begun to fall. Before the sun rises on Saturday, Watertown might receive two feet of snowfall.
According to the National Weather Service, transport is already “extremely poor” in these affected locations.
One day after Thanksgiving, the weather service posted on social media today afternoon, saying, “It might not be much where you are or where you’re going, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be bad along the way.” “Avoid entering the bands affected by the lake effect.”
The following is what the weather service said would occur as of Friday at 4 p.m.:
- Over 70 inches of snow might fall in and around Watertown.
- For Oswego, Jefferson, and Lewis counties, a lake effect snow warning has been extended through Monday at 7 p.m.
- The largest accumulations are anticipated in the Eastern Lake Ontario Region. There could be significant snowfall in the Tug Hill region in addition to Watertown.
- On Sunday night, heavy snow is expected to travel south into Oswego County, while the majority of the lake effect bands will be north of that county.
According to the weather service, the heavy snow will make travel extremely difficult or impossible.
Forecasts indicate that the bands may be narrow but powerful.
For instance, the weather service predicts that Pulaski, which is about 30 minutes south of Watertown, would receive roughly 10 inches of snow.
Nevertheless, 11 counties in Western and Northern New York—Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Allegany, Erie, Cattaraugaus, Chautauqua, Genessee, Herkimer, and Wyoming—have been placed under a state of emergency by Governor Kathy Hochul.
Travelers are being advised by the weather agency to avoid locations where the snow bands will be the thickest.
