BUFFALO, NY -- A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for all of WNY from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.
Heavy, mixed precipitation including sleet, freezing rain and heavy, wet snow will fall within that time making travel very difficult to nearly impossible at times.
Ice accumulations may be greatest in Cattargaus and Allegany Counties where sleet and freezing rain may add up to 1". The Buffalo Metro and areas closer to the lake will see a couple hundredths to a tenth of an inch of ice. Drivers should be aware that even trace amounts of ice can make the roads very slick, especially after a period of rain that may have washed away road treatments.
Folks living in northern Erie and Niagara counties could see up to 6-12" of snow. Snow accumulations of 8-14" is possible in southern Erie, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming and Chautauqua counties. In Cattaraugus and Allegany counties snow totals of 5-10" expected.
A Flood Watch remains in effect for Thursday through Friday night for most of WNY
Warming air, combined with rain and snow melt, will present the risk of ice jam flooding.
Rainfall during the watch will average a 1/4 to 3/4 an inch.
Snow melt and warming temperatures Wednesday will soften river ice. Ice jams will follow Thursday through Friday night.
READ: Officials work to prevent ice jams in local creeks
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