Alert archive / New York / Lake Effect Snow Warnings in 2021

Lake Effect Snow Warning 4, NWS Buffalo, NY

January 22, 2021Jefferson County, Lewis County, Oswego County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this lake effect snow warning at Jan 22, 2021, 3:25 AM EST for Jefferson County, Lewis County, Oswego County, New York. It took effect at Jan 22, 2021, 4:00 AM EST. It was in force for 9 hr. 8 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Jan 22, 2021, 3:25 AM EST (08:25 UTC)
In effect from: Jan 22, 2021, 4:00 AM EST
Expired: Jan 22, 2021, 1:00 PM EST
In force: 9 hr
Issued by: NWS Buffalo, NY

Counties Jefferson County, NY, Lewis County, NY, Oswego County, NY

The radar

The Ft Drum radar (KTYX), 18 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:27 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jan 22, 6:00 AM EST	SNOW 4.5	5 N Brantingham, NY	CO-OP OBSERVER STATION GFDN6 CHASES LAKE.
Jan 22, 6:00 AM EST	SNOW 9	1 Nw Constableville, NY	COCORAHS STATION NY-LW-3 CONSTABLEVILLE 1.2 NW.
Jan 22, 6:00 AM EST	SNOW 10.4	5 W Constableville, NY	CO-OP OBSERVER STATION HGHN6 HIGHMARKET 2W.
Jan 22, 7:00 AM EST	SNOW 7	1 Ne Lowville, NY	CO-OP OBSERVER STATION LOWN6 LOWVILLE.
Jan 22, 7:00 AM EST	SNOW 7	7 Ne Orwell, NY	CO-OP OBSERVER STATION RDFN6 REDFIELD 8N.
Jan 22, 7:00 AM EST	SNOW 7.4	2 Nne Richland, NY	COCORAHS STATION NY-OS-1 LACONA 3.6 SSE.
Jan 22, 8:00 AM EST	SNOW 10.2	Osceola, NY	CO-OP OBSERVER STATION OCON6 OSCEOLA.
Jan 22, 12:00 PM EST	SNOW 8.1	4 Wsw Barnes Corners, NY	6.5 INCHES OF SNOW FELL FROM 6PM TO 6AM.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 00:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 205 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1343 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 66 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 221 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 253 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

581 
WWUS41 KBUF 220825
WSWBUF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
325 AM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

NYZ006>008-221800-
/O.CAN.KBUF.LE.W.0003.000000T0000Z-210122T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KBUF.LE.W.0004.210122T0900Z-210122T1800Z/
Oswego-Jefferson-Lewis-
Including the cities of Oswego, Watertown, and Lowville
325 AM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow expected. Additional snow 
  accumulations of 5 to 10 inches in the most persistent lake 
  snows which will be across the Tug Hill Plateau.

* WHERE...The Eastern Lake Ontario Region. Greatest accumulation
  across the Tug Hill Plateau. Much less snow in Watertown and in 
  northern portions of Jefferson and Lewis Counties.

* WHEN...Until 1 PM EST this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult with deep snow cover on
  roads and very poor visibility. Heavy snow will impact
  Interstate 81 from Parish to Adams. The hazardous conditions 
  could impact the morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Heavy snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling, be
prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.

Submit snow reports through our website or social media.

&&

Experimental content below...do not use operationally
Please see below links for more information on this experiment
http://www.weather.gov/buf/polygon_pdd
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/
pns15lake_effect_snowaaa.htm
To view the experimental polygons please see:
http://www.weather.gov/buf/lespolygon
COORD...4380 7512 4385 7520 4387 7556 4392 7588 
        4388 7609 4380 7623 4352 7626 4342 7550 4352 7536 
        4360 7513 
TIME Y21M01D22T0900Z-Y21M01D22T1200Z
COORD...4380 7512 4384 7573 4381 7605 4374 7625 
        4355 7625 4351 7638 4338 7614 4345 7570 4342 7550 
        4360 7513 
TIME Y21M01D22T1200Z-Y21M01D22T1800Z

$$

NYZ003>005-221800-
/O.NEW.KBUF.WW.Y.0005.210122T1800Z-210123T1800Z/
Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-
Including the cities of Rochester, Newark, and Fair Haven
325 AM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
1 PM EST SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 
  4 to 8 inches in the most persistent lake snows. Winds gusting 
  as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Monroe, Wayne, and Northern Cayuga counties.

* WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 1 PM EST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If
traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and
visibilities.

Submit snow reports through our website or social media.

&&

$$

Apffel

2 follow-up statements

111 
WWUS41 KBUF 221155
WSWBUF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
655 AM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

NYZ007-221300-
/O.CAN.KBUF.LE.W.0004.000000T0000Z-210122T1800Z/
Jefferson-
Including the city of Watertown
655 AM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The heavy lake effect snow has moved south of the area.

$$

NYZ006-008-221800-
/O.CON.KBUF.LE.W.0004.000000T0000Z-210122T1800Z/
Oswego-Lewis-
Including the cities of Oswego and Lowville
655 AM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow. Additional snow accumulations 
  of 3 to 5 inches in the most persistent lake snows.

* WHERE...Oswego and Southern Lewis counties. Greatest additional
  accumulation will be across southern portions of the Tug Hill
  Plateau.

* WHEN...Until 1 PM EST this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult with deep snow cover on
  secondary roads and very poor visibility. Heavy snow will impact
  Interstate 81 from Central Square to Sandy Creek. The hazardous
  conditions will impact the morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Heavy snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling, be
prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.

Submit snow reports through our website or social media.

&&

Experimental content below...do not use operationally
Please see below links for more information on this experiment
http://www.weather.gov/buf/polygon_pdd
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/
pns15lake_effect_snowaaa.htm
To view the experimental polygons please see:
http://www.weather.gov/buf/lespolygon
COORD...4360 7513 4370 7526 4372 7559 4365 7623 
        4355 7625 4351 7653 4334 7634 4327 7586 4348 7581 
        4345 7548 
TIME Y21M01D22T1000Z-Y21M01D22T1800Z

$$

NYZ003>005-222000-
/O.CON.KBUF.WW.Y.0005.210122T1800Z-210123T1800Z/
Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-
Including the cities of Rochester, Newark, and Fair Haven
655 AM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 
  4 to 8 inches in the most persistent lake snows. Winds gusting 
  as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Monroe, Wayne, and Northern Cayuga counties. In Monroe
  county the heaviest snow will be north and east of the city of
  Rochester.

* WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 1 PM EST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If
traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and
visibilities.

Submit snow reports through our website or social media.

&&

$$

Apffel

777 
WWUS41 KBUF 221753
WSWBUF

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1253 PM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

NYZ006-008-221900-
/O.EXP.KBUF.LE.W.0004.000000T0000Z-210122T1800Z/
Oswego-Lewis-
Including the cities of Oswego and Lowville
1253 PM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

The heaviest snow have moved out of the area. However, lighter
snows will continue the rest of the afternoon into tonight with 
additional minor accumulations possible.

$$

NYZ003>005-230200-
/O.CON.KBUF.WW.Y.0005.210122T1800Z-210123T1800Z/
Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-
Including the cities of Rochester, Newark, and Fair Haven
1253 PM EST Fri Jan 22 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST
SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4
  to 8 inches in the most persistent lake snows. Winds gusting as
  high as 30 mph.

* WHERE...Monroe, Wayne, and Northern Cayuga counties.

* WHEN...Until 1 PM EST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If
traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and
visibilities.

Submit snow reports through our website or social media.

&&

$$

TMA

The office that day

Everything else NWS Buffalo, NY issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 22, 3:25 AM EST	Winter Weather Advisory	BUF	Cayuga, Monroe, Orleans, Oswego, Wayne	31 hr
Jan 22, 3:38 AM EST	Small Craft Advisory	BUF		53 hr
Jan 22, 4:51 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Lewis, Oswego	114 min
Jan 22, 6:31 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Oswego	89 min
Jan 22, 7:06 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Niagara	54 min
Jan 22, 8:04 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Niagara	56 min
Jan 22, 8:59 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Monroe	76 min
Jan 22, 9:04 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Wayne	56 min
Jan 22, 10:18 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Monroe, Ontario, Wayne	72 min
Jan 22, 11:01 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus	59 min
Jan 22, 3:41 PM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Oswego	49 min
Jan 22, 4:54 PM EST	Special Weather Statement	BUF	Oswego	66 min

Nearby

Lake Effect Snow Warnings in New York, 2021 Every lake effect snow warning in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.