Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Will winter arrive with the new year?
Eventually, of course, but the new year arrived after what was the second-warmest December on record for the Buffalo region, according to the National Weather Service.
Light snow will taper off across Western New York New Year's morning with dry weather expected into Tuesday. A clipper system will bring the potential for a minor accumulating snowfall by mid week.
The first week of 2024 features up and down temperatures. The greatest chance for snow across the area comes Wednesday into Thursday, especially East of the lakes.
Forecasters say temperatures in the lower to middle 30's will be marginal to accumulate much snow on Wednesday, especially across lower elevations and near the lakeshores. Even inland where temps are slightly cooler will see mainly less than an inch of new snow on Wednesday.
Widespread light snow and greater lake enhancement will be in store late Wednesday to the northeast of the lakes in the evening, shifting east/southeast of the lakes by late in the night. Most areas will see a coating to an inch of snow on Wednesday night. Cooling temps will result in more significant snow downwind of the lakes, with early indications in the 2-3 inch range east of Lake Erie.
Some more snow could return for next weekend.
One thing to keep in mind is the wide open water of the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Erie, and the potential for lake effect snow as a result of the unusually warm water and ice-free conditions .
Its not a matter of if winter will arrive, it's a matter of when.
