Lake-effect snow warning affects upstate New York cities

The National Weather Service has issued a lake-effect snow warning for parts of Oneida, Onondaga and Madison counties through Saturday morning, with heavy bands and significant accumulation possible; Syracuse and Utica are among the cities in the impacted area.

The National Weather Service has placed parts of upstate New York under a lake-effect snow warning through Saturday morning. The alert covers counties in the Syracuse–Utica area as a broader wave of winter systems moves across the United States. Meteorologists report heavy snow bands and strong winds in affected corridors. Related winter watches and warnings are also in effect in other regions, including parts of the Midwest and the West Coast. What is known: - The NWS lists northern and southern Oneida County, Onondaga County, and Madison County under the lake-effect snow warning, and maps include cities such as Syracuse and Utica. - NWS Binghamton posted that heavy lake-effect snow is shifting inland across parts of northern Onondaga and central Oneida counties, with snowfall rates reported at 1–3 inches per hour in intense bands. - A NWS meteorologist reported expected totals of roughly 1 to 2 feet in the main belt, with some locations possibly reaching about 3 feet and potential brief rates up to 4 inches per hour; other storm warnings are in place elsewhere in the country. Summary: Officials say the lake-effect snow will continue through Saturday and will likely lift northward during the day, though some north-central Oneida County may see continued accumulation into Saturday evening. Undetermined at this time.