Buffalo, N.Y. — The snowstorm that will reach the Syracuse area late Monday has already been lashing Western New York with high winds and snow.
Wind gusts of 79 mph were recorded Monday morning at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, according to the National Weather Service.
Gusts of 60 mph were seen at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.
The state Thruway has banned empty tractor trailers and tandem trucks until further notice from Exit 46 (Rochester – Corning – I-390) to the Pennsylvania line, including the I-190.
Buffalo and Rochester are forecast to get about 8 inches of snow through Wednesday, though the amounts vary by location. Some areas could get as much as 3 feet of snow, the weather service said. , Snow totals so far were not immediately available
Very cold winds, combined with an Alberta clipper system, is leading to heavy lake effect snow downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, the weather service said.
The storm is expected to arrive in Central New York late Monday into early Tuesday.
Two or more feet of snow could fall in Syracuse and its northern suburbs through Wednesday, according to the weather service.
Local officials have warned residents to stay off the roads and avoid possible blizzard-like conditions.
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 7 a.m. Wednesday.