First Defense: Very Harsh Polar Air Arrives, Limited Lake Effect For Some

JAMESTOWN – The polar air we’ve been talking about has started to entire the US in the upper Great Lakes and it is on its move towards Western New York.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Lake Effect Snow for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties until 7 PM Thursday.

There is also a Wind Chill Warning in effect for all of Western New York until 6 PM Thursday for dangerously cold wind chill values; possibly dropping as low as 30 below zero.

Looking over the newest computer guidance, the lake effect band will mainly focus most of its mussel over the Buffalo/metro area. The band will move its way towards the Southern Tier Wednesday night into Thursday. This is when we will get in on the action, albeit not as intense.

We have taken down the projected snowfall totals. With the lake effect focusing mostly in Buffalo, that is where the targeted bullseye will be where upwards of two feet could pile up in sports near the metro.

For the Southern Tier, about 4 to 8 inches north and 2 to 6 south near the NY/PA line.

The snow is not the big story here, the cold that is coming our way is the story. We’re talking about very brutal temperatures over the next couple of days. Most areas are going to struggle to reach 0 both Wednesday and Thursday. When you factor in the wind, it will feel more like 15 to 30 below zero.

This is a dangerous level of cold and you don’t not want to be out in this for any extended period of time. With wind chill values this low, it only takes about 10 minutes for frostbite to set in on exposed skin.

However, a big change in the weather pattern is coming towards the second half of the weekend into early next week. Temps will rebound back above average into the 40s with rain showers by Monday.