Syracuse, NY – The weather forecast for Christmas weekend travel in Upstate New York is taking a turn for the worse, with heavier snow than originally forecast today and a second storm that could bring freezing rain Sunday.
A pair of storm systems could make driving difficult as travelers head home over the long Christmas holiday weekend.
The severity of winter warnings from the National Weather Service has increased, with many counties now under a winter storm warning, the highest level of winter warning.
The first storm is likely to begin this afternoon, bringing a band of heavy snow that could fall at a blinding rate of 2 inches per hour in narrow bands by Saturday morning.
Forecast snow totals for this storm have increased over the past 24 hours, and the impact could be felt further north into central New York than originally thought.
There’s a lot of uncertainty with today’s storm, a clipper system that delivers cold air from the Canadian plains. While widespread snowfall is likely, it’s difficult to predict exactly where the snow bands will be most intense, according to the National Weather Service.
However, the latest forecast shows that Central New York will be hit harder than previously thought. Cortland County is under a winter storm warning, the highest level of alert. The highest snow totals of up to a foot are expected in the Catskills and higher elevations of the Southern Tier.
Snow totals should decrease towards the north and east. Syracuse is in the forecast for 3 to 6 inches of snow.
The storm is expected to reach the Finger Lakes between noon and 3 p.m. and the Syracuse area between 2 and 6 p.m.
A second storm is forecast for Sunday afternoon and evening, bringing rain and freezing rain to close out the weekend.
Freezing rain is most likely at higher elevations. For much of the upstate, including major urban centers like Buffalo and Syracuse, Sunday will likely bring rain, but not temperatures cold enough for freezing rain.
Rain is expected to continue throughout the day on Monday. Forecasters are watching for potential lake-effect snow and strong winds. It’s too early to say where the snow might fall, the weather service said.
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