Lake-effect snow is bringing extreme conditions across areas downwind of the Great Lakes, including whiteouts and up to 6 feet of snow accumulations in some areas.

A significant lake-effect snow event is gripping the Great Lakes region and will continue through early next week, bringing heavy snowfall, whiteout conditions, and life-threatening accumulations. These intense, localized snowstorms, fueled by the contrast between warm lake waters and cold Arctic air, are affecting areas in Michigan, New York, and beyond.

Major highways, including I-90, I-79, and I-81, have faced closures as snowfall rates reach up to 5 inches per hour in some areas. Rapid snow accumulation and near-zero visibility have stranded motorists, creating perilous conditions for holiday travelers. Adding to the danger are strong, freezing winds and towering snowdrifts.

The heaviest snowfall is concentrated south of Buffalo, N.Y., Watertown, N.Y., and in the Tug Hill Plateau near Lake Ontario, where some areas are expected to see accumulations of up to 6 feet. Meanwhile, regions just outside the snow bands remain largely unaffected, resulting in starkly different experiences within short distances. These sharp contrasts make travel especially tricky as people return home from Thanksgiving celebrations.

In response to the extreme conditions, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a disaster emergency for the hardest-hit counties, enabling state agencies to deploy critical resources. The lake-effect snow is expected to persist through the weekend and into early next week as an arctic air mass continues to pour in from Canada.

The same arctic airmass will continue to produce extremely cold conditions across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, with wind chill temperatures below -30 degrees Fahrenheit in portions of north-central North Dakota.