Western New York’s white Christmas got a refresher coat Thursday.
Officially, 3.3 inches fell at the National Weather Service office in Cheektowaga, and another inch or two is forecast to arrive before noon today.
A lake-effect snow advisory was issued until 10 a.m. today for southern Erie, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, where an additional 5 to 8 inches were predicted.
Heavy snow slowed traffic on the Thruway from Silver Creek to the state line late Thursday afternoon, but travel returned to normal as the snow diminished during the evening.
The general snowfall that disrupted the Thursday morning drive in the Buffalo metro area also made things more complicated in Clarence, where highway crews continue moving snow and ice to alleviate the lingering effects of last weekend’s soaking.
The northern part of the town remained under a travel advisory Thursday evening, according to David A. Baumler, deputy coordinator of emergency services. While roads gradually were being opened, some still were closed or restricted, including Wolcott, Kelkenburg, Kenfield and West Phalenger, where there was ice on the south end by the bridge. Drivers who ignore barricades without good reason can expect to be ticketed.
Baumler said, “We still have high water in some locations and will have to let the water come down and then deice after that before the roads can be opened up to traffic.”
Meanwhile, the snowstorm that made for slick roads and fender-bending accidents in the Northtowns and city Thursday morning moved out of the area by noon, making way for more localized lake-effect snows, mostly south of Buffalo.
The snow is expected to ease off by the weekend, when partly sunny skies may bring temperatures as high as 40 degrees Saturday and Sunday.
“That comes with a ‘but,’ ” said David Zaff of the National Weather Service. “But after the weekend, it will be really cold again. The lows will be single digits, maybe near zero, with highs only 10 to 15. That will last for a few days at least.”
email: citydesk@buffnews.com
Officially, 3.3 inches fell at the National Weather Service office in Cheektowaga, and another inch or two is forecast to arrive before noon today.
A lake-effect snow advisory was issued until 10 a.m. today for southern Erie, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, where an additional 5 to 8 inches were predicted.
Heavy snow slowed traffic on the Thruway from Silver Creek to the state line late Thursday afternoon, but travel returned to normal as the snow diminished during the evening.
The general snowfall that disrupted the Thursday morning drive in the Buffalo metro area also made things more complicated in Clarence, where highway crews continue moving snow and ice to alleviate the lingering effects of last weekend’s soaking.
The northern part of the town remained under a travel advisory Thursday evening, according to David A. Baumler, deputy coordinator of emergency services. While roads gradually were being opened, some still were closed or restricted, including Wolcott, Kelkenburg, Kenfield and West Phalenger, where there was ice on the south end by the bridge. Drivers who ignore barricades without good reason can expect to be ticketed.
Baumler said, “We still have high water in some locations and will have to let the water come down and then deice after that before the roads can be opened up to traffic.”
Meanwhile, the snowstorm that made for slick roads and fender-bending accidents in the Northtowns and city Thursday morning moved out of the area by noon, making way for more localized lake-effect snows, mostly south of Buffalo.
The snow is expected to ease off by the weekend, when partly sunny skies may bring temperatures as high as 40 degrees Saturday and Sunday.
“That comes with a ‘but,’ ” said David Zaff of the National Weather Service. “But after the weekend, it will be really cold again. The lows will be single digits, maybe near zero, with highs only 10 to 15. That will last for a few days at least.”
email: citydesk@buffnews.com