Two feet of snow has already buried portions of northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York from heavy lake-effect snow. Additional rounds of heavy lake-effect snow will continue through early this week.

Bitterly cold air continues to flow over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes. The result will be bands of moderate to heavy snow today downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. In fact, the lake-effect snow machine is expected to persist through Monday and Tuesday.

Along Lake Erie, the area most at risk is the snow belts along Interstate 90 between Ashtabula, Ohio, and Dunkirk, N.Y., including Erie, Pa. Repetitive and stubborn bands of lake-effect snow will lead to daily snowfall totals between 10 and 20 inches through Monday, with lighter snowfall continuing into Tuesday.

Further to the east along Lake Ontario, the wind will set up a firehose of moisture directed at Watertown, N.Y., and the northern Adirondacks. Multiple days of 10 to 20-inch snowfall could lead to accumulation totals as high as 50 to 60 inches by the time conditions improve later on Monday into Tuesday.

Lake Effect Snow Warnings are in place along the I-90 and I-86 corridors across southwestern New York, northwestern Pennsylvania, and northeastern Ohio, as well as along the I-81 corridor in upstate New York.

The same cold air will also be responsible for the lake-effect snow across portions of northern and western Michigan today into early next week. Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories are found throughout northern and western Lower Michigan into the Upper Peninsula, as well as across far northern Wisconsin. More than a foot of snow has already fallen in a few areas of Michigan. Lighter snows will continue today before a potential increase in snow returns on Monday.

Cassadega, N.Y., has totaled 47.6 inches of snow, while Silver Creek, N.Y., has 32 inches of snow. The Buffalo Bills' football game is being played tonight in Orchard Park, N.Y., which has witnessed 24.3 inches of snow. Copenhagen, N.Y. has totalled 58.8 inches of snow off of Lake Ontario, while Watertown, N.Y., has clocked in with 37.6 inches of fresh snow. The snowbands have started shifting southward again, with 2 to 5 inches already on the ground from Erie, Penn., to the Cleveland suburbs.

The cold air responsible for the lake-effect snow will be the first taste of winter for many in the East into early this week.

The East won't be the only area expected to see a cold snap as the cold air will push pretty far south over the next few days. Freeze Warnings are in places from southern Mississippi to northern parts of Florida, with Freeze Watches extending into Gainesville and Ocala, Fla. Cities such as Mobile, Ala and Valdosta, Ga. are at risk for overnight lows in the 20s to lower 30s early this morning.

There will be one ingredient missing that will tug at the heartstrings of snow lovers. While a few weak disturbances will plow across the East over this week, significant areas of moisture aren’t in the offing to combine with the cold air mass. This will keep the threat of big snowstorms to a minimum over the next week or so. Still, a more organized disturbance may bring a fresh coating to a few inches of snow around mid-week across portions of the Great Lakes, eastern Ohio Valley, and the interior Northeast. There will likely be another round of heavy lake-effect snow Thursday into Friday downwind of the Great Lakes.

This is the time to check on the elderly, keep pets inside, dress in as many layers as possible to avoid hypothermia, and have an emergency kit on hand in your car for travels. The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water, and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods.

Lake-Effect Snow Continues To Bury Upstate New York