Lake Effect Snow Hammers North County on Friday, More on the Way

Chautauqua and southern Erie counties got hammered Friday evening by an intense band of lake effect snow that is currently to our north. According to meteorologist David Thomas with the National Weather Service in Buffalo, some areas of northern Chautauqua County have picked up more than two feet of snowfall since the beginning of the storm, while parts of southern Erie County have seen more than five feet...

David Thomas: storm totals across the region so far

Chautauqua County is currently getting a break from the snow, but it's not over yet. A winter storm watch that was in effect for the county has been upgraded to a lake effect snow warning and will run from 10:00 PM tonight until 10:00 PM Sunday. Thomas says the lake effect band will move south this evening and begin to impact the county again...

David Thomas: the band of snow will move south tonight

The warning is also in effect for Cattaraugus County. Along with more snowfall, wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour will create areas of blowing snow, which could significantly reduce visibility.

Updated local snowfall totals as of 11:24 AM Saturday:

Angola: 46.0 inches
Fredonia (0.8 mile WNW): 24.0 inches
Dunkirk (1.0 mile south): 22.1 inches
Forestville (2.1 miles SW): 20.0 inches
Fredonia (1.8 miles WNW): 18.0 inches
Gerry (0.8 mile north): 12.7 inches
Kennedy (2.6 miles SE): 12.1 inches
Mayville (0.2 mile ESE): 10.7 inches
Falconer (0.3 mile WSW): 9.0 inches
Jamestown (4.0 miles ENE): 8.9 inches
Kennedy (0.3 mile NE): 8.5 inches

Top left: snowplow Friday evening on Routes 5 and 20 in Irving (photo by the New York State Department of Transportation

Top right: snow falling Friday evening in Dunkirk (photo by Gayle Gugino)

Bottom: expected snowfall this weekend (graphic by the National Weather Service)