ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. — The same weather system that brought conditions favorable for ice jams will also bring gusty winds and scattered snow squalls this afternoon and evening.
The pairing of rain showers and warmer temperatures Sunday afternoon were expected to help lead to snow melt, and flooding due to ice jams is possible through Monday afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo issued an Areal Flood Watch for Erie County until 1PM this afternoon. Ice jams are possible in Buffalo Creek, Cazenovia Creek, Cayuga Creek, the Buffalo River, and in any other waterways that are typically vulnerable.
Warming temperatures over the weekend will allow for ice covered waterways to potentially melt and break apart. Melting snow, as much as 2 to 4 inches, plus additional runoff from light rain showers will add to water levels too. Because of this, ice jams are possible through this afternoon.
A Wind Advisory begins at 1 p.m. Monday and lasts until 1 p.m. Tuesday for Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany counties, where wind gusts could reach up to 50 mph. Otherwise, west-northwest winds may gust between 30 to 40 mph especially near the lakeshores. Potter and McKean counties in Northern PA are also included in the advisory.
These winds could also produce scattered lake effect snow squalls. With this kind of pattern, significant accumulation isn't a concern, but driving conditions could change very quickly with areas of severely reduced visibility in any intense squalls.
Stay tuned to Storm Team 2 and WGRZ.COM for the latest weather updates.
