BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) – A Snow warning due to lake effect was issued for parts of Western New York.

The warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Friday for Southern Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Wyoming counties, including Warsaw, Jamestown, Olean, Orchard Park and Springville.

Additionally, a lake effect snow advisory is in effect for Northern Erie and Genesee counties, including Buffalo and Batavia, from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Friday.

A very cold air mass will pour over Western New York on Wednesday afternoon. On Wednesday, the rain will turn to snow and the lake effect snow machine will start. The temperature in Lake Erie is 43 degrees, which is 2 degrees above normal.

The heaviest snow will fall along the Chautauqua Ridge to the Southtowns. The band will fluctuate a bit Thursday, but the heaviest snowfall will be south of Metro Buffalo. There will once again be more snow in South Buffalo than in North Buffalo. The heaviest part of the band could produce a snow rate of about 3 inches/hour.

Winds will be strong, pushing the lake band further inland toward Genesee and Wyoming Counties. Temperatures will be in the high 20s and winds will gust to nearly 40 miles per hour. These strong winds will produce areas of blowing and blowing snow with wind chill values ​​near zero.

Some school closures and cancellations of school activities are expected on Thursday. Our weather team will continue to update this story as new data arrives.