Winter storm heading to WNY on Friday

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Good Thursday Evening from Meteorologist Don Paul:

A Winter Storm WARNING for our entire US viewing area begins very late tonight continuing into Friday night. Heaviest snowfall will occur on the Niagara Frontier, with less moisture and a mix of sleet & freezing rain holding down amounts to the south, depending on the precise path followed by an area of low pressure moving in our direction.

A storm system moving toward WNY & northern PA will bring only patchy light snow most of the night, and mostly north, but the snow is likely to increase on the Niagara Frontier just before the AM commute. Warmer air in the storm's circulation may produce a period of sleet and freezing rain to the south--and sleet could reach Buffalo to Batavia for a few hours., during the predawn and morning hours. That icy mix would make for more treacherous travel conditions in the s tier, even though it would hold down snow accumulations. If the storm took a slightly more northward path, that could also bring a period of sleet farther north. During the afternoon, winds will become more northerly, and temperatures will begin dropping, changing any icy mix back to All Snow. It appears both the AM and PM commutes will be seriously impacted by this storm system. Snow will continue in the evening, diminishing later at night. Unlike NYC and especially Boston, winds will not be a major factor with this storm for us, though they will increase somewhat later tomorrow.

Current projected storm totals from 4Warn Weather by late Friday night: 3-6" Chautauqua County4-8" s tier/PA; 5-9" southern Erie-southern Wyoming Cos, 6-10 inches northern Erie Co (incl Buffalo) to Batavia and nrn Genesee counties, and  8-12" closer to Lake Ontario (Niagara/Orleans Cos). These amounts will, again, be affected by the PRECISE path followed by this storm system.

Saturday may begin with just a bit of a light wintry mix, but some limited sun returns in the afternoon on a Colder day. Temperatures moderate quite a bit on Sunday-Monday, with some Rain on Monday.
 

Details of the next seven days including snowfall amounts in the 4Warn Forecast below:

The Most Accurate forecast in WNY comes from the 4 full-time professional meteorologists of 4 Warn Weather - staffing and technology unmatched! Get the forecast on News 4 or anytime on WIVB.com or on your mobile device

T ONIGHT; Just some patchy light snow most of the night, and mostly north. In the predawn hours , snow will start to increase across the Niag Frontier, with up to 2" possible. An icy mix may develop south of the metro area toward dawn. Low: 25-29. E/SE: 10-15.

FRIDAY; Snow becoming Heavy at Times across the Niagara Frontier, chance of some sleet Buffalo & South. 4-7" by sunset, more north.. An Icy Mix is possible AM, specially to the south. This mix is likely to turn to All Snow in the afternoon, as temperatures begin to fall. Another 2-4" of snow is likely in the evening, bringing totals to the south up to 4-8" (See storm totals in opening discussion). SLICK Roads. ESE 10-15 becoming NNE 15-20 later in the day. N 15-25 overnight, turning Colder with a harsh wind chill with limited Blowing Snow. Low: mid teens.

SATURDAY; Chance of just a bit of freezing drizzle early in the day, with some Partial Clearing PM. Cold. High: 20-23. NW 10-15. Overnight low: single numbers, colder valleys.

SUNDAY; Mostly to Partly Sunny & Milder, turning breezy PM. High: 37. Chance of a little light rain late overnight, possibly falling as freezing rain in the valleys.

MONDAY; Periods of Rain, turning Cooler in the afternoon. High: 42. Sct Shwrs turning to a little snow overnight. Low: 31.

TUESDAY; Mostly Cloudy & Breezy with Sct Lt Snow Shwrs possible. High: 35.

WEDNESDAY; Little change from Tuesday.

THURSDAY; A chance of snow developing, depending on whether or not another east coast system takes shape. High: 33.