Lake Effect Snow Warning, feet of snow expected for areas around the Great Lakes

A high-impact lake-effect snow event will dump feet of snow from today [Friday] through early to mid next week [first week of December].

The culprit for the heavy, long-lasting lake effect snow is a weather pattern that will feature the coldest air of the season persistently flowing over the relatively warm, ice-free Great Lakes [Great Lakes water temperatures are still in the 50s - running 4-7 degrees above normal].

Great Lakes Current Water Temperatures and Departure From Normal

This west-northwesterly flow over the lakes [a favorable pattern in which the winds are traveling a long distance over these warm waters] will favor the typical snowbelt zones on the eastern side of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario [lake effect snow is also forecast on the eastern side of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron].

These areas [on the eastern side of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario] are under a Lake Effect Snow Warning from today [Friday] through Monday [December 2 - it's possible this gets extended] with other areas around the other Great Lakes under Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories.

Active Winter Weather Alerts

Active Lake Effect Snow Warning through Monday [December 2]

Within the Lake Effect Snow Warning, 3-7 feet of snow is forecast in some locations. Additional locations around the other Great Lakes under Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories where several inches of snow are forecast with the potential of up to 2 feet for areas on the southeast side of Lake Superior and northeastern side of Lake Michigan [the northwestern parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula].

3-Day Snow Accumulation Forecast

3-Day Snow Accumulation Forecast - Lake Effect Snow Warning

If you're interested in the Buffalo Bills game on Sunday, snow is possible during the game, although the heaviest snow looks to be just south of the stadium and just south of Buffalo in general [north Buffalo will see snow in the low inches while the south side will see a foot plus].