Thanksgiving Travel Trouble: Snowy Surprises Ahead for Central NY

Central New York is bracing for a snowy Thanksgiving. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the region, including Syracuse. This watch covers the busy travel days leading up to and following Thanksgiving Day. Expect heavy snowfall. More than 7 inches could pile up in certain areas. This is due to lake effect snow bands that are expected to form. These bands can be quite narrow. They might dump a lot of snow in one spot. But they could also miss another area completely. Strong winds are also in the forecast. Gusts could reach up to 40 mph. This means blowing and drifting snow. Visibility could drop significantly. Whiteout conditions might make driving treacherous. This is especially concerning given the high travel volume for the holiday. The watch includes several counties. Onondaga, Oneida, and Madison counties are all under this alert. Watches had already been issued for Western New York and the Tug Hill plateau. It's still unclear exactly where the heaviest snow will fall. Lake effect snow is unpredictable. It can change rapidly. Travelers should be prepared. Delays and hazardous road conditions are likely. It's important to stay updated on the latest weather information. Safe travels might mean adjusting plans or allowing extra time.