Get ready, America! A wave of icy Arctic air is sweeping across the country this weekend, bringing bone-chilling temperatures and some serious snow. States like Pennsylvania, New York, and others near the Great Lakes are gearing up for an intense blast of winter weather.
Here’s the scoop: Winter weather alerts, including lake-effect snow warnings, have been issued across parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Some of these warnings stretch all the way through Monday evening.
So, what’s going on? When the freezing air from the Arctic meets the warmer waters of the Great Lakes, it creates narrow bands of heavy snow called lake-effect snow. This weekend, these bands will dump piles of snow in places like Cleveland, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York.
The cold isn’t just stopping up north, either. Temperatures below freezing are expected to reach as far south as Florida’s panhandle. More than 13 million people in nine southern states are under freeze alerts, so it’s time to bundle up even in places where cold snaps aren’t the norm.
The most jaw-dropping snow totals are expected around Watertown, New York, where a whopping 3 to 5 feet of snow could fall. Yes, you read that right—feet, not inches! Another heavy snow band will focus on areas south of Buffalo, like Dunkirk, where more than 3 feet of snow is in the forecast. Travel will be nearly impossible in these areas due to whiteout conditions, so staying home is your safest bet.
On Friday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in parts of western New York, warning of dangerous conditions like closed roads, travel headaches, and power outages. Erie County, which includes Buffalo, is bracing for impact, especially its southern towns like Eden, Evans, and Hamburg. Officials there are urging folks to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
“This storm is no joke,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said in a press conference. “If you don’t need to drive, just don’t. It’s not worth the risk.” Northern parts of Erie County, including Buffalo itself, won’t see as much snow—just a few inches—but conditions will still be slippery and cold.
Driving through these whiteouts is no small feat. “We’re talking about not being able to see anything on the road,” Poloncarz added. “It’s incredibly dangerous.”
In fact, some highways are already shut down, including a stretch of Interstate 90 near the Pennsylvania border. So if you’re planning to hit the road, think again.
Even the Buffalo Bills football game on Sunday night is being impacted. Fans heading to the stadium will face up to 30 inches of snow before the game kicks off. The team is ready to clear as much as they can, but just getting there will be an adventure. Don’t forget to dress warmly—wind chills are expected to drop into the teens!
Still, Western New Yorkers are tough when it comes to snow. “We’ve been through this before,” Poloncarz reassured. “As long as we stay cautious, we’ll get through it together.”
So, grab your snow boots, crank up the heat, and settle in for a wintery weekend. And if you’re in the South, don’t forget to protect your pipes and plants—it’s going to be a frosty one!
