Western New York State weather

[NYCTWCjunkie]

After moderate to heavy rain moved through the eastern Great Lakes region last night, there is the chance
for residual showers for the remainder of today with windy conditions in most locations around the
Buffalo metropolitan area and western New York State. Temperatures will remain above normal as we start
the upcoming weekend.  Lake effect snow showers are in the forecast by early next week.

This is a brand new graphics package.  It will probably need tweaking in the days, weeks and months ahead as
hopefully there will be more reporting sites available.  This is mainly in reference to the metropolitan area map.
Originally I had wanted to use West Seneca on it instead of Buffalo Niagara International Airport as well as
Amherst, New York.  However, Amherst doesn't have a reporting site available.

I have not added the transparent byline on the photo yet, but to give the appropriate copyright credit,
the current conditions graphic page background is by "jbcurio" at Flickr.



PLEASE NOTE:
The downtown Buffalo weather observations site did not provide relative humidity and dew point data
for this report. Also, there was no radar view available at 2:50 PM, so it is not included in this post.

About 99% of the time, I'm usually completely on top of things, but I accidentally have been posting
the wrong name for Buffalo's primary airport.  The correct name for it is Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Then again, the National Weather Service can also be blamed because they have yet to make the proper name
reference change.

[Localonthe8s]

Very nice job!

[Mike M]

Lake effect snow has been present in the eastern Great Lakes region in the past several days, as well as windy conditions causing low wind chills. Lake effect advisories and warnings have been posted.

[Alejandro]

watertown,NY is going to get pounded with alot of snow at least over a foot

[Localonthe8s]

Did you use Google maps for your "maps"?

[Mike M]

Did you use Google maps for your "maps"?

Yes.

[NYCTWCjunkie]

The same storm system that was centered way down in the southeastern part of the country and progresses
northeastward has brought wintry conditions to the Ohio River Valley and the eastern Great Lakes region and
moderate to heavy rain as you go toward the mid-Atlantic coast.

In western New York State and the horseshoe region of southern Ontario in Canada, there is a plenty of snow
to be found. Don't let the radar I provided fool you. All the observation sites that are reporting snow in fact are.
Some areas are just overcast for now. But it is expected to snow heavily at times in Buffalo and areas to the south
and west toward Cleveland. Temperatures are not expected to get out of the 20s later today. Here is the latest
on this storm from the National Weather Service:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT by the National Weather Service in Buffalo, New York on March 7, 2008

A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect until 8:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday morning.

Snow will continue tonight with the additional accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with the some of the heaviest
amounts over the Niagara Frontier sections. Snow will continue in the west during Saturday, but it will likely mix
with sleet or freezing rain during the morning from the Genesee Valley to the western Finger Lakes.
Colder air will spread in during Saturday with a return of moderate to heavy snow in the afternoon and evening.
Winds will increase as the low passes by which will cause poor driving conditions in blowing and drifting snow.
Total storm accumulations by Sunday morning may exceed a foot.

A Winter Storm Warning is issued when severe winter weather is expected. Heavy snow or ice will cause
hazardous driving conditions. If you will be traveling in the warning area you should use extreme caution
and allow extra time.

PLEASE NOTE:
Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland and Toronto City Centre Airport in Toronto were the reporting sites used
in this report. I will put together the graphics pages as soon as possible.


BUFFALO
downtown weather conditions as of 2:55 AM Eastern Time

27°

light snow

Wind Chill: 17°
Visibility: 3 miles
Humidity: 95%
Dew Point: 25°
Wind: NNE at 15 MPH, gusting to 15 MPH
Barometric Pressure: 29.93 inches (falling)
Ceiling: 800 feet
Saturday's air quality forecast:  Good
downtown Buffalo overnight forecast:  Periods of snow and windy.  Low around 25°.



METROPOLITAN AREA MAP OBSERVATIONS...

Buffalo Niagara International Airport
28° light snow
Wind: NNE at 17 MPH
Wind Chill: 15°
Visibility: 3 miles


Niagara Falls, NY
27° overcast
Wind: NNE at 18 MPH
Wind Chill: 14°
Visibility: 10 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of snow and windy.  Low around 24°.


Orchard Park, NY
26° light snow
Wind: Calm
Visibility: 3 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of snow and windy.  Low around 25°.


Lockport, NY
27° overcast
Wind: N at 18 MPH
Wind Chill: 14°
Visibility: 10 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of snow and windy.  Low around 25°.


St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada
28° light snow
Wind: NNE at 11 MPH, gusting to 23 MPH
Wind Chill: 16°
Visibility: 2 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of heavy snow.  Low around 27°.


Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
25° light snow
Wind: NNE at 19 MPH
Wind Chill: 10°
Overnight forecast:  Periods of heavy snow.  Low around 27°.



OTHER WESTERN NEW YORK STATE OBSERVATIONS...

Dunkirk, NY
26° light snow
Wind: NNE at 10 MPH
Wind Chill: 15°
Visibility: 2½ miles


Grand Island, NY
27° overcast
Wind: NE at 3 MPH
Visibility: 10 miles


Hamburg, NY
27° light snow
Wind: NNE at 4 MPH
Wind Chill: 23°
Visibility: 3 miles


Kenmore, NY
28° light snow
Wind: Calm
Visibility: 3 miles


West Seneca, NY
28° light snow
Wind: SE at 5 MPH
Wind Chill: 22°
Visibility: 3 miles


Lancaster, NY
27° light snow
Wind: SE at 5 MPH
Wind Chill: 21°
Visibility: 2½ miles


South Wales, NY
25° light snow
Wind: NNE at 12 MPH, gusting to 17 MPH
Wind Chill: 14°
Visibility: 2½ miles


Springville, NY
24° light snow
Wind: Calm
Visibility: 3 miles


Youngstown, NY
27° overcast
Wind: Calm
Visibility: 10 miles



OTHER REGIONAL OBSERVATIONS...

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
24° light snow
Wind: N at 14 MPH
Wind Chill: 12°
Visibility: 2½ miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of light snow.  Low around 23°.


Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
21° light snow and windy
Wind: NNE at 21 MPH
Wind Chill: 5°
Visibility: 6 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of light snow.  Low around 21°.


London, Ontario, Canada
18° light snow
Wind: N at 11 MPH
Wind Chill: 5°
Visibility: 2 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of light snow.  Low around 18°.


Cleveland
23° light snow and windy
Wind: NNE at 26 MPH, gusting to 33 MPH
Wind Chill: 6°
Visibility: 1¾ miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of snow and windy.  Low around 22°.


Erie, PA
23° light snow
Wind: NNE at 17 MPH
Wind Chill: 8°
Visibility: 1¾ miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of snow and windy.  Low around 24°.


Rochester, NY
29° light snow
Wind: N at 14 MPH
Wind Chill: 17°
Visibility: 1½ miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of snow and windy.  Low around 26°.


Syracuse, NY
32° freezing drizzle
Wind: NNW at 7 MPH
Wind Chill: 24°
Visibility: 2 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of a wintry mix of precipitation.  Low around 31°.


Binghamton, NY
33° fog
Wind: NW at 7 MPH
Wind Chill: 26°
Visibility: ½ mile
Overnight forecast:  50% chance of rain or freezing drizzle.  Low around 34°.


Elmira, NY
33° overcast
Wind: N at 5 MPH
Wind Chill: 28°
Visibility: 10 miles
Overnight forecast:  50% chance of rain or freezing drizzle.  Low around 33°.


Dansville, NY
30° overcast and misty
Wind: NW at 12 MPH
Wind Chill: 19°
Visibility: 5 miles
Overnight forecast:  50% chance of a mix of snow and sleet.  Low around 26°.


Jamestown, NY
23° overcast
Wind: NNE at 15 MPH, gusting to 21 MPH
Wind Chill: 10°
Visibility: 7 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of snow.  Low around 24°.


Bradford, PA
25° overcast and misty
Wind: NE at 8 MPH
Wind Chill: 15°
Visibility: 5 miles
Overnight forecast:  Periods of snow.  Low around 25°.



36-HOUR FORECAST FOR BUFFALO (through Sunday)...
(courtesy of the National Weather Service)

OVERNIGHT
Periods of snow and windy. Low around 25°. North wind around 21 MPH. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Total nighttime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

LATER TODAY
Periods of snow and windy with widespread blowing snow. High near 27°.
North wind between 20 to 22 MPH with gusts as high as 36 MPH. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.

TONIGHT
Periods of snow and windy with widespread blowing snow, mainly before 3:00 AM. Low around 15°.
Wind chill values as low as -1°. Northwest wind between 16 to 20 MPH with gusts as high as 31 MPH.
Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

SUNDAY
Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of snow showers, mainly before 10:00 AM. High near 24°.
Wind chill values as low as -1°. West wind between 14 to 16 MPH with gusts as high as 29 MPH.



Western New York State regional radar within the last 1 hour (courtesy of WIVB-TV)...