Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - While it has only been a couple of days since a lake effect snowstorm dumped a substantial amount of snow in portions of Western New York, residents are bracing now for another significant winter storm to hit the region.
A Lake Effect Snow Warning is posted for Erie County, as more heavy lake effect snow is expected with total accumulations of 1-to-3 feet possible in the most persistent bands. The National Weather Service expects the greatest amounts of snow to fall across central and northern Erie County.
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With another round of lake effect snow targeting Western New York, that is sending some residents to the grocery store to ensure they're stocked up once again ahead of the storm.
"I pretty much stay home at my age, you only go out when you need to," said Wegmans shopper Lynne from Tonawanda on Tuesday. "That's why I'm here today, to get in-and-out and home, and I'm good for another few days."
Meanwhile, other shoppers like Lori from Amherst are not concerned with the latest snowstorm setting its sights on Western New York.
"I know it does [bring up concern] for a lot of people. I have an elderly mother, so we're very careful of that, but this is Buffalo. We should know how to deal with it all," said Lori on Tuesday.
For grocery stores like Wegmans, Tuesday seems like déjà vu with people flocking to their stores to grab what they need ahead of the next few days.
"We really planned ahead, which is a good thing," said Michele Mehaffy, spokesperson for Wegmans with WBEN. "Our stores always make sure that we look to the forecast and rely on our own meteorologists as well to give us that information. We make sure our stores are planning with getting extra loads, and if there's inclement weather coming, then we kind of double up on those kinds of things. Just to make sure that our shelves are stocked and we're there for our customers."
Mehaffy feels Wegmans has had plenty of practice from past storms on what to expect when residents head out to the grocery store to ensure they have what they need before conditions start to deteriorate. While this circumstance may present a challenge with the storms hitting so close to one another, Mehaffy is still confident Wegmans can provide what its customers need.
"Obviously we know how lake effect snow works. It's like that arm that kind of goes right across our region, and it could be really awful in one location, but completely fine in another," Mehaffy said. "Internally, we have to make decisions based on geography, and the specific impacts to the stores.
"We've got the weather coming, we know customers are going to be in from these hours before the storm hits, and then once the storm hits, it's quiet in our stores until things clear outside. We've had a long time to practice this here in Western New York and our Wegmans stores."
And if there is one store in the region that is in need of certain items ahead of a storm, Mehaffy says there's always a constant communication between stores throughout Western New York.
"We've had situations in the past where, obviously, we know the Southtowns usually gets the brunt of lake effect. Sometimes our store in the Southtowns gets hit, and then we may have staff and we may have products coming from other stores that can help that store out," she said. "There's a little bit of that, but our stores are pretty good at being able to forecast what they need for their own store, based on the shoppers that are in the stores at the time.
Mehaffy, as well as local shoppers, all notice there is nothing in particular at the stores are in major need of ahead of this storm, but over the next couple of days, similar to last week, the shopping won't just be for storm prep. There's also another Buffalo Bills playoff game for people to get ready and excited for.
"[Customers] were not just looking at the staples, but they were looking at things that would get them through the game when we thought the game was Sunday," Mehaffy explained. "Things could be a little bit different now, and who knows. If the kids are in school, they may be looking for things for packing lunches and things like that. It really depends, but we always, always see those staple items."
While stores this week have already been a touch busier than usual across the region, Mehaffy asks all patrons and other residents to be courteous and patient.
"We're dealing with the weather just like everyone else is, and just be patient with other customers and with our employee," she said.