Buffalo may witness 4-feet of snow this weekend due to lake-effect snowstorm

As a powerful snow band blasted eleven counties, including Buffalo, an emergency was declared on Friday morning in each area. The New York State Twitter account published a picture of a yardstick buried under 19 inches of snow in Buffalo and warned everyone to stay safe.

Despite Buffalo's 32 inches of snow, Erie County will also get crushed. Because of the quirks of lake-effect snow generated by chilly air taking up moisture from warmer lakes, snowfall totals were likely to vary significantly.

How much snow has fallen?

According to Paul Walker, AccuWeather's senior meteorologist, snowfall rates in Southern Buffalo reached 5 inches per hour on Friday. And according to Liz Jurkowski, NWS Buffalo meteorologist, the storm dumped at least 2 feet of snow on Friday on Orchard Park, Hamburg, and West Seneca south of Buffalo.


The NWS reported 13 inches of snow Friday morning at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, where flights were cancelled. Thundersnow was observed in Buffalo for several hours Thursday night and may persist till Friday, causing localised power outages. The lake-effect snowstorm warning remained in force over Erie County on Friday and would be changed to a winter storm watch by Saturday.


Due to dangerous circumstances, several roadways were closed. According to the NWS, snowfall accumulation might approach 4 feet.

FAQs:

1. Why did Erie County impose a travel ban?
   The travel ban was for non-emergency vehicles on Thursday because the roads were icy.
2. What did Jurkowski say about the snow?
   She said that after the snow shifts to Niagara County on Saturday, it could drift back south by night with an extra nine inches.