Winter storm warnings were issued for parts of New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio on Tuesday and will remain in effect for the next few days. It follows a treacherous post-Thanksgiving travel weekend as snow is expected to continue across parts of the Great Lakes region while bitterly cold temperatures prevail across much of the continental United States.

“Snow will continue downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario on Tuesday,” the National Weather Service said in a Tuesday bulletin. “Then moderate to heavy lake snow will develop downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario on Wednesday into Thursday.” This means some areas of the Great Lakes could see more than 30 cm of additional lake snow through Tuesday. Parts of the eastern Upstate and northern Lower Michigan could see 6 to 16 inches of snowfall and wind gusts up to 40 mph between Tuesday evening and Thursday.

Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties in New York could see additional snow accumulations of over 7 inches through Thursday; Parts of this region were already covered with almost 1.5 meters of snow over the weekend. At Sunday night’s Bills game in Buffalo, hundreds of fans shoveled Highmark Stadium to clear away snow that was burying the seats.

Northern New England could see moderate to heavy snow on Wednesday, while light to moderate snow is forecast for parts of northeast and southern New England.

Notes and warnings

Parts of the Great Lakes region are under a winter storm watch for the next few days, NWS meteorologists said.

A winter storm warning was issued for parts of Michigan through Thursday and for parts of northern and western New York and northeast Ohio through Friday.

Lake effect snow warnings are also in effect for parts of northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York through Tuesday evening.

Lake effect snow occurs when wind-driven cold air flows over lakes that are not as cold. The Great Lakes are experiencing record warmth in this winter weather storm.

Icy temperatures for millions

About 70% of the continental U.S., about 220 million people, will experience freezing temperatures over the next few days. The NWS says “temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees below average in portions of the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast through Wednesday evening.” Cities like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Cincinnati will feel the deep cold all week.