Western New Yorkers were shoveling out their driveways – and their neighbors, too – Thursday following a winter storm that dumped about a foot of heavy snow across the region overnight.
The snowstorm, which has wreaked havoc over much of the Northeast, left roads slick and piled with snow in the Buffalo area.
Emergency responders were dealing dozens of vehicles were slipping off the roads and getting stuck in snowbanks, but no major weather-related accidents were reported.
Light snow and bit of freezing drizzle fell during the morning, but National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Hitchcock said today’s precipitation won’t amount to much.
“The snow is pretty much over,” Hitchcock said.
Most of the region logged about 10 to 12 inches during the storm, which hit, almost exactly at 4 p.m. Wednesday, as had been expected. The highest storm total in the region was in South Wales, which was blanketed in 15 inches of snow.
Winds didn’t end up being much of a problem in urban areas, but Hitchcock said there were reports of “some pretty bad drifting out in the country.”
The heavy snow fell through the first half of the night but tapered off “during the wee hours of the morning,” Hitchcock said.
That gave highway crews across the region a chance to begin clearing the snow before the morning commute.
In Buffalo, major roadways had been cleared by morning but by late morning, homeowners were cheering the arrival of giant yellow high-lift loaders maneuvering through side streets.
Hitchcock said the Buffalo area can expect up to an inch more of snow during the day Thursday. Friday was expected to be dry but cold with highs not expected to get above 30.
“Over the weekend we’ll see a little bit of light snow but nothing like last night,” Hitchcock said.
The weekend snow could cause icy conditions on the roads again, he cautioned.
email: mbecker@buffnews.com
The snowstorm, which has wreaked havoc over much of the Northeast, left roads slick and piled with snow in the Buffalo area.
Emergency responders were dealing dozens of vehicles were slipping off the roads and getting stuck in snowbanks, but no major weather-related accidents were reported.
Light snow and bit of freezing drizzle fell during the morning, but National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Hitchcock said today’s precipitation won’t amount to much.
“The snow is pretty much over,” Hitchcock said.
Most of the region logged about 10 to 12 inches during the storm, which hit, almost exactly at 4 p.m. Wednesday, as had been expected. The highest storm total in the region was in South Wales, which was blanketed in 15 inches of snow.
Winds didn’t end up being much of a problem in urban areas, but Hitchcock said there were reports of “some pretty bad drifting out in the country.”
The heavy snow fell through the first half of the night but tapered off “during the wee hours of the morning,” Hitchcock said.
That gave highway crews across the region a chance to begin clearing the snow before the morning commute.
In Buffalo, major roadways had been cleared by morning but by late morning, homeowners were cheering the arrival of giant yellow high-lift loaders maneuvering through side streets.
Hitchcock said the Buffalo area can expect up to an inch more of snow during the day Thursday. Friday was expected to be dry but cold with highs not expected to get above 30.
“Over the weekend we’ll see a little bit of light snow but nothing like last night,” Hitchcock said.
The weekend snow could cause icy conditions on the roads again, he cautioned.
email: mbecker@buffnews.com