Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The first lake effect snow of the season arrived in Buffalo and the Northtowns on Wednesday morning. It came just as predicted, making for a messy morning commute.
The amount of snow, one to three inches, was considerably smaller than the 16 inches that was dumped on the Southtowns on Monday, but the timing was the biggest factor, with so many people on the roads as the lake band was moving through.
"The first snow did hit at a rough time for commuters at the beginning of a work day," said Nate Marton, Department of Public Works Commissioner in the city of Buffalo. "But I'm thankful. I know there's been congestion and accidents, but I think a lot of people took heed to our messaging about driving slow and taking extra time."
City crews were out pre-salting during the overnight hours. "We've got about 25 pieces of equipment out across all parts of the city. We're clearing the streets." Marton is requesting patience from people as crews move around.
In the Town of West Seneca, Wednesday's snow is the second test of the season for Highway Superintendent Brian Adams. The town was on the Northern edge of Monday's lake effect. "Monday was more of a wet and heavy snow. It caused a hard pack and ice. Today is more of a fluffy snow, but with all of the traffic, it's taking a little longer to treat the roadways," he noted.
Adams offered this advice to drivers, when it comes to sharing the road with snow plows.
"Don't crowd the plows. Give them space to work. Prepare yourself for winter driving, Mother nature is very unpredictable. You could go into work and think you're getting one to two inches, and the next thing you know, you have six to eight. Just give yourself extra time," said Adams.
Buffalo has six new pieces of snow fighting equipment from the New York State Thruway Authority this year. One of those trucks had an electrical issue Tuesday night, so that is out of service at least temporarily.
Marton said the city is also waiting for four more brand new plows that they are hoping to receive by the end of the year.