The Great Lakes, Plains, and Midwest regions are expected to experience snow and dangerously cold temperatures into next week.

 

On Saturday, November 30, 2024, a person shovels snow from the sidewalk in Lowville, N.Y.

The season's first significant snowfall is covering towns in upstate New York near lakes Erie and Ontario during the busy holiday travel and shopping weekend. Numbing cold and heavy snow are expected to continue into next week, creating hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains, and Midwest regions.

**BUFFALO, N.Y.** — Upstate New York towns along lakes Erie and Ontario are experiencing their first significant snowfall of the season during a busy holiday travel and shopping weekend. Numbing cold and heavy snow are predicted to continue into next week, posing hazards across the Great Lakes, Plains, and Midwest regions.

A state of emergency has been declared in parts of New York, complicating the journeys of many Thanksgiving travelers returning home. 

"Travel will be extremely difficult and hazardous this weekend, especially in areas where multiple feet of snow may accumulate very quickly," the National Weather Service warned on Saturday.

In Pennsylvania, part of I-90 was closed, along with westbound lanes of the New York Thruway heading toward Pennsylvania.

Some areas in New York, Ohio, and Michigan have already seen nearly two feet (61 centimeters) of snow, while Pennsylvania's northwestern tip recorded about 29 inches (73 centimeters).

This week’s frigid Arctic air has also brought bitterly cold temperatures, averaging 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below normal in the Northern Plains, prompting cold weather advisories in parts of North Dakota.

By Monday, cold air is expected to spread over the eastern third of the U.S., with temperatures around 10 degrees below average.

Heavy lake-effect snow has also impacted parts of Michigan, leading to a winter storm warning in effect from Saturday through Sunday for areas along Lake Michigan. The Sault Ste. Marie region could see an additional 14 inches of snow, making travel difficult or even impossible, according to the weather service.

While no snow is expected in the Deep South, temperatures have dropped below freezing.

"This marks the beginning of our winter season," said Sam Marlow, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Atlanta. 

"This morning, most of north and central Georgia fell below freezing," he noted, with the northern Georgia mountains reporting temperatures around 22 degrees Fahrenheit (-5.5 degrees Celsius).

"We expect temperatures to warm up during the day, reaching around 50 degrees," Marlow added.

By Tuesday morning, lows could drop into the teens in isolated areas of Georgia.

In Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro declared a disaster emergency as parts of Erie County in northwestern Pennsylvania have already received nearly three feet (one meter) of snow, with more expected through Monday night. He reported that state emergency, police, and transportation teams were deployed overnight to assist stranded drivers and ensure emergency responders can reach those in need.

During the 24-hour period from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, Pennsylvania State Police responded to nearly 200 incidents, officials reported.

As snow began to fall on Friday, New York state forecasters warned that Watertown and other areas east of Lake Ontario could see 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) of blowing and drifting snow through Monday.

After an unusually mild fall, lake-effect bands could bring 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) of snow along Lake Erie and south of Buffalo, with snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) per hour. Lake-effect snow occurs when warm, moist air from a body of water interacts with cold, dry air above.

"The lake is 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius), which is about six degrees above normal for this time of year, and that’s why we’re experiencing these heavy lake-effect events," said Erie County Public Works Commissioner William Geary. "Looking ahead to the next two weeks into December, we can expect more snow."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency for the affected counties. Rapidly worsening conditions on Friday led to closures along Interstate 90, and tandem and commercial vehicles were banned from Interstate 86 in western New York and much of U.S. Route 219 starting Friday afternoon.

To assist first responders if needed, ATVs and snowmobiles were being deployed around the county, according to Gregory Butcher, Erie County's deputy director for preparedness and homeland security.

The Buffalo Bills are seeking volunteers to help shovel snow at Highmark Stadium, where more than 2 feet (0.6 meters) of snow could accumulate before Sunday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Last year, a significant lake-effect storm prompted the NFL to move the Bills' wild-card playoff game against Pittsburgh from Sunday to Monday.