If you live anywhere from Binghamton to Syracuse to the hill towns north and east of I-81, you might want to top off the windshield washer fluid and make sure your boots are by the door.
A widespread winter system is moving in early Wednesday morning, and depending on where you live, you’re either looking at a messy mix or a full-blown winter storm. The National Weather Service has issued a variety of alerts across the region, and Wednesday is shaping up to be a “plan ahead” kind of day.
Northern Oneida’s Big Snow Setup
Northern Oneida County is bracing for the highest impacts. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 4 a.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Thursday, and this one is the real deal. Snow totals between 6 and 12 inches are expected, with winds gusting up to 30 mph by Thursday.
The snow starts early Wednesday, may take a quick breather later in the day, and then ramps up again Wednesday night as lake effect snow really gets going. With colder air settling in and winds increasing, blowing and drifting snow could make travel very difficult to impossible at times.
Advisory and Watch for Onondaga, Madison, and Southern Oneida
From Syracuse to Hamilton to Utica, things get a little more complicated. These counties are under a Winter Weather Advisory from 4 a.m. Wednesday to 1 a.m. Thursday, followed by a Winter Storm Watch late Wednesday night through Friday morning…