Yellow Alert Issued for Lake Snow and Bitter Cold in Rochester

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A Yellow Alert has been issued for the Rochester, New York area, warning of two major weather concerns - lake effect snow and bitterly cold temperatures. The lake snow is expected to focus north of the Thruway and Route 104, with the heaviest accumulations of 6-10 inches in northern Wayne County. Meanwhile, wind chills could drop to -10 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit, posing a risk of frostbite for those spending time outdoors.

Why it matters

The combination of heavy lake effect snow and dangerously cold wind chills can create hazardous conditions for travel and outdoor activities in the Rochester region. Residents will need to take precautions to stay safe during this winter weather event.

The details

The lake effect snow is expected to continue through Saturday, with the heaviest bands targeting areas north of Route 104. Snowfall totals of 3-6 inches are possible in the Thruway corridor, while northern Wayne County could see 6-10 inches. Meanwhile, air temperatures will plummet to near zero or below zero south of the Thruway on Friday morning. Combined with northwest winds of 10-15 mph, wind chill values are forecast to drop to -10 to -20 degrees, which can lead to frostbite in as little as 30 minutes of exposure.

• The Yellow Alert is in effect Thursday night through Friday.
• The lake effect snow will be most persistent Thursday night into Friday, with the heaviest bands north of Route 104.
• The bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills are expected Friday morning.
• The lake effect snow will gradually shift further south and taper off by Saturday evening.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The National Weather Service will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the lake effect snow and bitter cold conditions throughout the event.