Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As advertised, an icy storm advanced across the Buffalo and Western New York region late Wednesday, coating much of the region in a glaze of ice and crunchy snow.
Winter Weather Advisories have been extended until 10pm for the northern portion of the region, including metro Buffalo. Advisories for the southern half of the region have been allowed to expire.
The heaviest precipitation has moved off to the east, but meteorologist Bob Hamilton at the National Weather Service in Buffalo tells WBEN, "It’s going to continue for most of the day and, as you know, it doesn’t take much freezing drizzle to keep things iced up."
Thousands are without power across the metro area, mainly across areas in central Erie County and southward.
While roads have been treated, many parking lots, driveways and sidewalks are encrusted in a coating of snow that's covered by ice. "Most areas picked up an inch and a half to two inches of snow and sleet and then you had the freezing rain on top of that," Hamilton said.
There will be a 'crunch' under your step Thursday morning, says Hamilton, as the layer of sleet and snow from last night, in most cases, wasn't cleared before the coating of freezing rain fell overnight.
The light freezing drizzle will continue through the day Thursday and will be followed by another round of sleet and then all snow late Thursday. Less than an inch of accumulation is expected, says Hamilton.
The good news is, temperatures will eventually moderate above freezing. "Second half of the weekend," Hamilton notes.
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WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING
* WHAT...Freezing rain. Additional ice accumulations of a few hundredths of an inch. Some snow and sleet may mix in at times.
Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
* WHERE...Northern Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges are possible. The hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Periods of freezing rain will result in slick roads. Slow down and use caution while driving.