Upstate New York Could Be Buried Under 100 Inches of Snow by Sunday

Parish, N.Y (AC) - - While many areas in New England cannot seem to accumulate more than a few inches of snow on the ground, an intense lake effect snow band dropped buckets of snow rates this morning that topped 3-5 inches per hour in some areas of upstate New York.

The snow has slowed down for the moment but meteorologists are saying the snow will once again start coming down fast and heavy, however they are not sure if the heavy snow will occur in the same area that was already buried by snow this morning or in a different area.

The National Weather Service In Buffalo, NY issued a forecast calling for a total daytime snow accumulation of 14 to 20 inches for Parish, NY and surrounding areas. To add insult to injury the NWS is then forecasting more snow for late tonight and early tomorrow morning that may be heavy at times. The low temperature is predicted to be around 12 degrees with wind chill values between -5 and 3 degrees. New snow accumulation of 10-16 inches possible.

The NWS has issued a winter weather warning that reads:

"A LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST
FRIDAY.

AN INTENSE BAND OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL WANDER SOUTH ACROSS
OSWEGO COUNTY THIS MORNING AND THEN BACK TO THE TUG HILL PLATEAU
REGION OF THE THREE COUNTY AREA THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.
SNOWFALL RATES OF 3 TO 5 INCHES PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE
LAKE SNOW BAND AND ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES ARE LIKELY
TODAY AND ANOTHER 10 TO 15 INCHES AGAIN TONIGHT. STORM TOTAL
SNOWFALL FROM THIS LAKE EFFECT EVENT HAS ALREADY EXCEEDED 70
INCHES...OR NEARLY 6 FEET...AND WILL CONTINUE TO PILE UP OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ACROSS THE EASTERN LAKE
ONTARIO REGION THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING ESPECIALLY ON NORTH SOUTH
ROADS SUCH AS INTERSTATE 81 AND ROUTES 11 AND 3."

The National Weather Service also issued a Special Weather Statement, which reads very ominious for those in the affected areas, and the text of the statement says:

"EPIC LAKE SNOWS WILL CONTINUE EAST OF LAKE ONTARIO...

THE INTENSE BAND OF SNOW OFF LAKE ONTARIO IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
TO HIT OSWEGO COUNTY VERY HARD THROUGH 11 AM. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED
TO FALL AT A RATE OF 2 TO 4 INCHES PER HOUR IN THE HEART AND MOST
INTENSE PORTION OF THE BAND.

THE MOST INTENSE PORTION OF THE LAKE BAND WILL MAINTAIN ITSELF
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF OSWEGO COUNTY...MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH
OF A PULASKI TO REDFIELD LINE WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOWS FALLING
AROUND THE PARISH...MEXICO AND OSWEGO AREAS. THESE AREAS COULD
PICK UP ANOTHER FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW THROUGH 11 AM.

THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND WEST WINDS GUSTING OVER 25 MPH WILL
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE FREQUENT WHITEOUTS AND VERY TREACHEROUS
DRIVING CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY ON NORTH TO SOUTH HIGHWAYS SUCH AS
INTERSTATE 81 AND ROUTES 11 AND 3. SOME ROADS WILL LIKELY BE
IMPASSABLE.

SOME AREAS HAVE ALREADY EXCEEDED 70 INCHES...OR NEARLY 6 FEET OVER
THE PAST THREE DAYS OR SO. THE LAKE SNOWS WILL CONTINUE TO PILE
UP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS."

At the time of this report the highway department stated there were no major highways shutdown. However, the Chairman of Oswego County is about to declare a state of emergency.

Auto parts stores are reporting that consumers are rushing to buy windshield wipers blades, wiper motors, and windshield deicers.

Local media is urging that residents that live near a fire hydrant to clear the area around the hydrant so firefighters will have easy access in case of a fire in or near your home.

It is recommended that residents should stay off the roads and in their homes unless travel is absolutely necessary. There are many reasons for this recommendation including preventing accidents, automobile breakdowns and to open up the affected areas so that the snowplows have easier access so they can attempt to cleanup the heavy snow as fast as possible.

Sources: NWS, CNN, SPC