Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Timing is everything when it comes to weather, and a plunge back to winter temperatures and quick blanket of snow met to put the brakes on the Tuesday morning commute.
"It's definitely not about the amount of snow, but the timing is not good for the morning drive," National Weather Service meteorologist John Hitchcock tells WBEN Tuesday morning. "We expect this light snow that's pretty widespread to continue," Hitchcock says.
Total accumulations won't be impressive by Western New York standards, with a couple inches across the City of Buffalo, 3 to 4 inches across parts of Niagara and Orleans counties, 4 to 7 inches across the Boston Hills and as much as 9 or 10 inches across the Chautauqua Ridge.
Road conditions are snow covered in spots, but mainly wet after being treated with salt overnight. Parking lots, driveways and walkways are snow covered and very slick, says Hitchcock. "Underneath this thin layer of snow, it's very, very icy on anything that hasn't been salted."
Snow will end quickly and the afternoon hours will be mainly dry, Hitchcock says.
And then?
"We're dry the rest of the work week and back to the upper 30's tomorrow," Hitckcock says. "A lot of this snow is goign to melt even tomorrow ... by the end of the week most of this snow will be gone."
No chance of a repeat of a Christmas blizzard either, Hitchcock assures us. "Sunday through Christmas Day, dry and pretty warm. It could be in the upper 40's or even 50 on Christmas Day."
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING
* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches will bring storm totals into the 4 to 7 inch range across higher terrain. Winds gusting as high as 30 mph will produce some blowing and drifting snow in open areas.
* WHERE...Wyoming, Cattaraugus, and Southern Erie counties. The greatest snow accumulations will be found across the Boston Hills, ridges of western Wyoming County, and the higher terrain in northern and western Cattaraugus County.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM EST this morning.
* IMPACTS...Plan on snow covered and slippery road conditions with reduced visibility. The morning commute will be impacted by snow and slippery roads.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Periods of snow will result in snow covered roads and limited visibilities. Slow down and use caution while driving.
WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING
* WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches will bring storm totals into the 7 to 11 inch range along the Chautauqua Ridge, with much lower amounts near Lake Erie and farther inland. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph will produce some blowing and drifting snow in open areas.
* WHERE...Chautauqua county. Greatest accumulations across the Chautauqua Ridge.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM EST this morning.
* IMPACTS...Plan on snow covered and slippery road conditions with reduced visibility. The morning commute will be impacted by snow and slippery roads.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Widespread accumulating snow will create dangerous travel conditions.
