New York State could experience snow squalls and heavy lake effect snow starting today

Syracuse, NY – Upstate New York could be hit by a series of snow squalls today that could leave a slippery layer of snow as temperatures drop and wind increases.

The cold front driving these squalls is also expected to produce some lake-effect snow today through Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

The squalls, accompanied by wind gusts of 20 mph or greater, are expected to move from west to east across western New York beginning this morning. You could reach Syracuse between noon and 6 p.m. and Albany between 3 and 6 p.m

Gusts generally don’t bring much snow, but temperatures quickly drop below freezing as winds pick up and reduce visibility.

“These snow squalls may bring brief periods of heavy snowfall and gusty winds that could quickly add up to an inch of snow across the region,” the weather service said in issuing a hazardous weather forecast. “This could also lead to poor visibility and slippery road conditions.”

Lake effect snow will impact Western New York and the Tug Hill Plateau from today through Wednesday afternoon. One to two feet of snow could fall where the most intense bands of snow remain.

Snow warnings due to lake effects are in effect for these regions from 4:00 p.m. today until 1:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Winds will shift Tuesday evening and lake effect snow is expected to fall across Central New York and the Finger Lakes. Syracuse is expected to reach 3 to 4 inches by 1 p.m. Wednesday. Auburn and Skaneateles will likely see 4 to 6 inches, the weather service said.

This month marked the snowiest early January in Syracuse since 2018. Syracuse has seen 24.4 inches of snow since Jan. 1, which is now above normal of 14.4 inches.