Janice R. Andrews
The Great Lakes region is bracing for another round of heavy lake-effect snow, with approximately 5 million Americans under winter weather alerts. The snow, which has already caused widespread disruptions following the Thanksgiving holiday, is expected to continue through Wednesday, creating dangerous conditions across the Midwest and Northeast.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), areas downwind of Lake Erie could receive an additional foot of snow by Tuesday. Northern Erie and South Erie in Pennsylvania are forecasted to see 6 to 15 inches of snow, while parts of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties in New York may accumulate 12 to 20 inches. Over the weekend, some parts of New York were buried under nearly 5 feet of snow, with Buffalo fans clearing Highmark Stadium during the Sunday-night Bills game.
Lake-effect snow occurs when cold air passes over warmer lake waters, a phenomenon amplified by the unusually warm temperatures of the Great Lakes this season. The NWS predicts light to moderate snow to persist downwind of Lake Ontario through midweek, with winter storm warnings and advisories in effect for Michigan, northern Indiana, and northern New York. Lake-effect snow warnings also cover northeastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and parts of western and northern New York.
In addition to snow, freezing temperatures are gripping much of the United States. About 70% of the continental U.S., or roughly 220 million people, will experience temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below average this week. Major cities such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Minneapolis are expected to endure the frigid conditions, while parts of the Southeast face freeze warnings.
As snow continues to pile up and temperatures plummet, residents across the affected regions are advised to prepare for ongoing hazardous weather and plan for delays and disruptions. The wintry blast shows no signs of easing as the week progresses.
