Strong winds and early-season snow are creating hazardous conditions across the Finger Lakes.
A pair of wind advisories are in effect until 1 a.m. Monday. Forecasters say gusts could top 50 mph, making travel tough — especially for high-profile vehicles — and raising the risk of scattered power outages.
In Central New York and Northeast Pennsylvania, winds from the west and northwest are expected to reach 15 to 30 mph, with gusts between 40 and 50 mph. A similar advisory from the National Weather Service in Buffalo covers a wide swath from Niagara and Monroe counties to Allegany and Ontario counties, where gusts could hit 50 mph as well.
In addition to the wind, parts of the central Southern Tier and Finger Lakes are under a Winter Weather Advisory through 7 p.m. Monday.
That alert includes Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Southern Cayuga, and Tompkins counties — especially at higher elevations. Forecasters expect between 3 and 7 inches of snow, with blowing snow making road conditions even worse.
The storm is expected to start with a mix of rain and snow Friday afternoon before turning into narrow bands of lake effect snow that continue into Monday. The National Weather Service warned that conditions could change quickly, especially within lake effect bands, making travel tricky and potentially dangerous during Monday’s morning commute.
Drivers are urged to slow down, use caution, and secure outdoor items to prevent damage.
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