According to the local forecast, heavy snow is possible with light snow beginning as early as Saturday morning. Snow will become heavy late Saturday afternoon and Saturday night and continue into Sunday morning.

Snow will then transition to lake effect Sunday afternoon and continue through Monday. At this time, greater than 7 inches of snow is possible.

Gusty winds and arctic air will also produce significant blowing and drifting snow and wind chills well below zero.

Motorists should plan on snow covered and slippery road conditions. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.

In addition to the snow, arctic temperatures will be arriving into the area early this week, courtesy of the Polar Vortex. Forecasters say an icy blast of bitterly cold air straight from the Arctic will freeze most of the eastern U.S. next week, ushering in a brutal, punishing stretch of intense cold that should last well into February.

Bundle up.

While most of the state is expected to see moderate snowfall, lake effect systems are expected to bring up to one foot of snow or more to portions of Western New York and the North Country. Area motorists are advised that they should travel with caution over the next 36 hours as driving conditions may grow difficult due to snow covered roads and limited visibility.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo issued a Winter Storm Warning for the counties of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Southern Erie and Wyoming, running from late last night through Thursday afternoon.

Heavy lake effect snow is possible with total snow accumulations of six to 12 inches possible for Jamestown, with even more amounts expected along the Chautauqua Ridge.

Winds could gust as high as 40 mph, causing blowing snow and significantly reduced visibility. Hazardous travel conditions will likely impact the morning and evening commute on Thursday.

Forecasters say Heavy Lake Effect Snow is expected over the region with additional snow accumulations of 10 to 20 inches in the most persistent lake snows. Winds will also be gusting as high as 40 mph.

Due to the weather, Travel could be very difficult to impossible in some locations. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact commutes this morning, this evening and Wednesday morning.

If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibility.

Up to Six Inches of Snow and frigid temperatures are being forecast for the Northeast United States, including areas of Upstate New York.

As a of the severe weather, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday urged New Yorkers to prepare for difficult driving conditions and extreme cold in the coming days building up to the Thanksgiving Holiday.

For Chautauqua County, the National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory that will be in in effect beginning at 4 a.m. Wednesday and running through 4 p.m. Wednesday.  According to forecasters, Lake effect snow is expected during that time with total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches expected in the most persistent lake snows. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph producing blowing and drifting snow could also take place. The advisory covers all of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties with the greatest accumulations expected across the Chautauqua Ridge.

Additionally, a strong arctic cold front is expected to move into the region Wednesday afternoon, bringing potentially record-breaking cold temperatures and snow squalls with it. Temperatures aren’t expected to fall to the upper teens by Wednesday afternoon and could fall to the single digits by Wednesday night and overnight into Thanksgiving Day.

Drivers should expect the potential for icy conditions on roadways and travel with extreme caution, and all New Yorkers are being urged to practice safe behavior when outside in extreme cold.

Forecasters say Heavy lake effect snow is expected for the Jamestown area, with anywhere between 7 and 14 inches of new snow expected to fall by early Saturday night in the most persistent lake snow areas. Winds gusting will be as high as 45 mph and will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Due to the conditions, travel will be very difficult to near impossible at times. Motorists who are traveling should be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibility.

Residents will experience a “calm before the storm” on Friday, with the forecast calling for only scattered snow showers later in the day, after 5 p.m. Throughout much of the day, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 22.

According to forecaster in Buffalo, an inch or less is expected for Thursday afternoon and 1 to 3 inches is expected for Thursday night. Heavier lack effect snows are expected to move into the area on Friday, with 3 to 6 inches expected during the day and another 3 to 5 inches expected for Friday night. On Saturday, 4 to 7 inches could fall during the day and 5 to 9 inches could fall Saturday night. Finally for Sunday, anywhere between 3 to 5 inches could fall – leading to overall storm totals to more more than 2 feet in the most persistent lake snow areas, including the Chautauqua Ridge area.

Periods of heavy lake effect snow will produce very difficult travel at times with poor visibility and snow covered roads. This will be long lasting event, with several days of difficult travel conditions in many areas. Motorists are urged to drive with caution and take their time getting to and from their destinations.

A view down 3rd St. in downtown Jamestown on Thursday morning, Dec. 15, 2016.

JAMESTOWN – Residents in Southern Chautauqua County are once again dealing with another round of Lake Effect Snow, with as much as 5 to 6 inches falling in some areas between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

In addition to the snowfall, the forecast is also calling for strong winds of 25 to 35 mph, with some gusts as high as 45 mph. The combination of snow, cold temperatures, and windy conditions will affect visibility and also create a wind chill of  as low as 10 degrees below zero.  There is also the threat of drifting snow on area roadways.

The weather has forced several local school districts to cancel classes for today, and has also impacted motorists who were trying to make their way to work or to other destinations. Drivers are advised to use caution if you have to venture out on the road and give yourselves plenty of time to get to your destination.

A Lake Effect Snow Warning remains in effect for Chautauqua County until 7 a.m. Friday. The forecast for Thursday is calling for an additional accumulation of 2 to 4 inches of snow, which could be heavy at times, with areas of blowing snow through much of the day. The projected high for the day will be in the upper teens, but the wind chill will make it feel like sub zero temperatures.

CLOSINGS AND CANCELLATIONS FOR THURSDAY, DEC. 15, 2016

PUBLIC SHOOLS

• Bemus Point Central Schools
• Bethal Baptist
• Chautauqua Lake Central Schools
• Clymer Central Schools
• Falconer Central Schools
• Jamestown Public Schools
• Panama Central Schools
• Ripley Central School District
• Sherman Central Schools
• Southwestern Central Schools
• Westfield Academy and Central School

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties from 7 p.m. tonight until 7 a.m. on Friday.

According to forecasters, the area could see anywhere from 5 to 9 inches of snow tonight and into Thursday morning, with an additional 3 to 6 inches predicted for Thursday and 2 to 4 inches for Thursday night into Friday morning. The overall snow totals for the most persistent Lake Snow areas is anywhere from 9 to 18 inches.

In addition to the snow, windy conditions are also expected, with wind speeds reaching 20 to 30 MPH and some gusts has high as 40 mph.

The wind will create blowing and drifting snow on some area roadways and, combined with the cold temperatures, it will also create a wind chill of 5 to 10 degrees below zero.

Residents and motorists are reminded that lake effect snow conditions can vary from locally heavy snow in narrow bands to clear skies just a few miles away. If you will be traveling across the region prepare for rapid changes in road and visibility conditions.

Accumulations of 4 to 8 inches Wednesday night, 3 to 5 inches Thursday, 1 to 2 inches Thursday night into Friday morning, leading to totals of 8 to 15 inches in the most persistent Lake Snows.

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BUFFALO – More snow could be on the way for Chautauqua County, including the city of Jamestown.

The national Weather Service has issued a Lake Effect Snow watch for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Southern Erie Counties, which is in effect from Wednesday Night until late Thursday Night.

The National Weather Service says anywhere between 7 to 14 inches of snow could fall in the most persistent lake snows. In addition, winds will be blowing between 25 and 35 mph, with some gusts reaching 45 mph, producing significant blowing and drifting snow.

The watch is issued when there’s a likelihood of the snow system developing and moving into the area.

JAMESTOWN – Despite the challenges and justified criticism, the snow plowing and removal efforts by city road crews this past weekend deserve to be recognized.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi (upper right) addressed the city’s snow plowing and removal efforts during the Dec. 12, 2016 work session of the Jamestown City Council.

That’s the message from Jamestown mayor Sam Teresi, who addressed the city’s recent snow removal efforts during Monday Night’s Jamestown City Council work session.

The mayor thanked residents for their patience and cooperation as the city worked to remove an estimated 42 inches of snow that fell on the area the past four days.

“There are very few older, densely developed urban areas that could deal with a storm even like what we had to deal with,” Teresi said. “It was steady, it was heavy, it was constant and just about any other place that I know of probably would have been paralyzed and shut down.”

The mayor also complimented the Department of Public Works (DPW) for its effort to try and keep up with the lake effect snow, which fell at times at a rate of 2 to 3 inches an hour for several hours straight.

As a result of the snowfall, Jamestown Public Schools was closed both Friday and Monday and dozens of accidents took place throughout Southern Chautauqua County, including Jamestown.

The mayor acknowledged the city has received complaints that were brought forward regarding side streets that had little to no attention during the weekend. As a result, some commuters were unable to make it to work on Monday morning, due to their vehicles being stuck. The mayor said the city DPW is already making adjustments so that it can better deal with clearing and removal on side streets during future storms.

“It’s a real specialty and it’s not perfect. We seek to improve and will continue to improve, but the kudos needs to go to our staff and to the general public,” Teresi said. “Number one, for their patience; number two, dealing with sidewalks, which is an area that needs a lot more attention; and number three, we’ve seen a lot of good gestures here in the community of people helping their neighbors out. We have a high percentage of elderly folks and disabled folks in this community and it’s really positive, encouraging, and inspiring to see people out there help others.”

Teresi added that given the numerous challenges that come with the various streets and landscape in Jamestown, city road crews do a remarkable job.

“Jamestowners know how to deal with this type of snow and it is different than dealing in rural areas and suburban areas, where you do not have the congestion of streets, narrow streets, hills, brick roads, density of parked cars, and the level of traffic,” Teresi noted.

The mayor also requested that residents continue to follow alternate parking and dig out fire hydrants if one is in front of your home and is buried in snow.