Winter weather alert calls for 1 to 2 feet of lake effect snow in parts of Central NY

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather alert today for parts of Central New York calling for high winds and heavy snow this week.

Heavy lake effect snow is expected from 4 p.m. Monday to 1 p.m. Wednesday, with a total of one to two feet in the most persistent lake snows, according to the weather service. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph, resulting in blowing and drifting snow.

The areas affected include Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties, including the cities of Oswego, Watertown and Lowville. The greatest accumulations are expected across the Tug Hill Plateau and the Eastern Lake Ontario Region. Heavy snow will fall in relatively narrow bands, they said.

The weather service said travel will be very difficult due to very poor visibility and deep snow cover on roads. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes, they said.

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