Historic lake-effect snowstorm creates whiteout conditions in western New York

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Watch: Historic lake-effect snowstorm pummels western New York

Across western and northern New York, a long-duration lake-effect snowstorm is underway that is sure to make history.

The historic snow piling up in western and northern New York is something you have to see to believe. 

With snow totals surpassing 4 feet in areas near Buffalo, the enormous lake-effect snowstorm is producing a winter weather bingo from snow squalls to thundersnow. 

A long-duration lake-effect snowstorm is well underway Friday, where some places will surpass the 4-foot mark and see the snow pile up through the weekend.

Cars and semis stuck in feet of snow in Hamburg, New York

Cars and semis have become stuck in feet of snow in Hamburg, New York on Friday. 

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Bands of heavy snow off lakes Erie and Ontario have been producing snowfall rates up to 3 inches per hour since Thursday night, vaulting storm totals in the city of Buffalo to 12.9 inches as of Friday afternoon, with considerably higher totals to the south, and the event is far from over. 

A snow squall from Lake Erie photographed by a FOX Weather watcher looked like something white walkers emerge from in "Game of Thrones." 

A snow squall produced by a lake-effect snowstorm in Buffalo, New York on Nov. 18, 2022. (Image: @adamp26/Twitter)

(FOX Weather)

The squall could be seen engulfing a highway in a whiteout, which, thankfully, had no traffic due to the state of emergency declared by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Another snow squall was photographed rolling toward Buffalo Harbour producing whiteout conditions at the state park.

A Lake Effect Snow Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Buffalo is in effect for Chautauqua County, New York until early Saturday.

It was good that the NFL made the call to move the Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns game to Detroit because the players would quickly lose the football at Highmark stadium. The last time an NFL game was moved due to a snowstorm happened in 2014 when the Bills were set to play the New York Jets.

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Buffalo Bills stadium buried under feet of snow during historic snowstorm

Buffalo Bills' Highmark Stadium is buried under feet of snow during a historic snowstorm. 

Nearly 48 inches feet of snow has already fallen at the stadium created by the significant lake-effect snowstorm.

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Photos shared by the Bills clearly show the goal posts, but everything else is buried in snow. 

Earlier Friday, drone video captured views of thundersnow in the heaviest snow bands over Buffalo blowing off Lake Erie. 

02:53

Watch: Drone shots of thundersnow over the Buffalo skyline

Incredible drone shots of thundersnow over the Buffalo skyline. Timelapse showing lake effect snow pushing in over the city. One shot resembles a haboob due to the sharp gradient.

DRONE CAPTURES INCREDIBLE VIEWS OF THUNDERSNOW OVER BUFFALO SKYLINE AMID POTENTIALLY HISTORIC SNOWSTORM

Drivers in Hamburg, New York, were attempting to shovel a path for their trucks and tractor-trailers stuck in the snow, but the fresh powder was not letting up Friday afternoon. 

The most significant impacts of the snowstorm are yet to come, with more lake-effect snow on Saturday. 

"We think we're in for a really long weekend," Oswego, New York Mayor Billy Barlow told FOX Weather.

05:25

Oswego Mayor: First wave of snowstorm 'wreaked some havoc' on area

Mayor of Oswego Billy Barlow says lake-effect snow bands caused widespread power outages, school closures, and many accidents on roadways Thursday. With more snow in the forecast, Barlow tells FOX Weather the city of Oswego is bunkering down for ‘a really long weekend.’ 

Barlow said Upstate New York is known as "snow country" for a reason. 

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"We know how to handle the snow and how to deal with storms of this size, although this is a little early in the year for us," Barlow said.

Oswego snow plows were pulled out of the garage a little early and crews were on the road Thursday preparing for the storm. 

In the Buffalo area, snow plows were dispatched to work day and night to clear roads.

Snow plows from Western New York Region of New York State Department of Transportation, plowing Routes 5 and 20 in the town of Irving in Chautauqua County. Their crews are working day and night throughout a storm.

(@NYSDOTBuffalo / FOX Weather)

Travel bans were put into place in some areas. However, some drivers attempted to venture into the elements, eventually becoming stuck and needing to be pulled out of the snow.

03:19

Automotive expert pulls drivers out from snow during historic storm

The Car Coach founder Lauren Fix, who earlier Friday helped stranded motorists, says a massive dumping of snow is coming down in Orchard Park, New York. Snow totals have reached 54 inches in the town, which is the unofficial 24-hour snow record.

The whiteout conditions with snowfall rates of 6 inches an hour were reported in Erie County, the home of the city of Buffalo.

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05:32

Storm tracker: Lake-effect snowstorm is 'at the top' of historical events

Storm tracker Brandon Clement says its gridlock on the roads of western New York with some areas of the state witnessing five feet of snow. Clement compares this historic snowstorm to an atmospheric river event in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Snowfall rates of 6 inches an hour are being reported in Erie County.

As the historic snowfall blanketed the western and northern parts of the Empire State, many residents in the town of West Seneca found their cars nearly disappear under feet of snow.

"It hit us out of nowhere," said Luis Cruz, who was visiting the U.S. from Canada.

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Cars in West Seneca, NY buried under feet of snow

FOX Weather’s Katie Byrne shows conditions in West Seneca, New York where vehicles are completely covered in snow.