Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It will be a messy Wednesday across the Buffalo-Niagara region for sure, with early snow transitioning to rain for a period of time, before temperatures drop again and a return to snow.
The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Weather Advisory through mid-morning for the Buffalo-Niagara region, northern Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties, and through early Friday for southern Erie County and the southern tier.
"Temps are going to rise," NWS meteorologist Jim Mitchell tells WBEN. "It will become pretty sloppy out there, and then we transition to a rain-snow mix this afternoon."
A couple inches of wet snow early Wednesday, will be followed by some rain, then a slushy half inch to an inch of additional snow Wednesday afternoon for the Buffalo metro area.
For the higher terrain across the southern tier, it will remain all snow, meaning more accumulation, hence the continuation of the advisory through early Friday.
"They'll have more in the way of accumulation down that way," Mitchell notes. "A total of 4 to 8 inches as we go through tonight."
A strong cold front will cross the region Wednesday night, returning colder ai and transitioning any precipitation back to snow. Lake effect snow will also develop, however the wind direction will push that activity well to the south of Buffalo.
"They'll have additional accumulations through tomorrow across the southern tier," Mitchell says. "Maybe a little bit of accumulation here, but really minor."
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING
* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations 1 to 2 inches.
* WHERE...Niagara, Orleans, Northern Erie, and Genesee Counties.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM EST this morning.
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions will impact the Wednesday morning commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Periods of snow will result in snow covered roads and limited visibilities. Slow down and use caution while driving.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST FRIDAY
* WHAT...Snow. Localized lake effect snow tonight through Thursday night. Total snow accumulations over two days of 7 to 14 inches, snow accumulation coming in a number of different batches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph will produce blowing and drifting snow, mainly later Wednesday night through Thursday.
* WHERE...Southern Erie and Wyoming counties and the western Southern Tier.
* WHEN...Until 4 AM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult. The hazardous conditions will impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow will transition to plain rain and drizzle this morning, first across the lower terrain near Lake Erie, and with increasing temperatures, across inland lower elevations during the day. Hill tops may remain as a wet snow through the event, until the early evening when a colder airmass transitions precipitation to a fluffier snow for all locations.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Periods of snow will result in snow covered roads and limited visibilities. Slow down and use caution while driving.