The National Weather Service issued a lake effect snow warning at 3:30 p.m. that is in effect from 12 p.m. Thursday until 1 a.m. Saturday.
The lake effect snow is expected to organize in bands that will meander through the area Thursday afternoon and into the night. The bands will move north Friday across the traditional snow belt along the Chautauqua ridge. Late Friday the snow will push further north into southern Erie County and extreme northern areas of Chautauqua County.
Snowfall rates could be as high as a couple of inches an hour at times, making travel difficult. Accumulations from Thursday afternoon until the storm abates could be as much as 2 feet in some areas.
Wind chills of 5 below to 14 below zero are expected late Wednesday night and again Friday morning.