New York’s Fulton Region Braces For Extreme Lake-Effect Snow With 9–44 Inches Expected
NEW YORK — Communities around Fulton in upstate New York are preparing for a potentially crippling lake-effect snow event, with forecasts showing an extremely wide range of 9 to 44 inches of accumulation. Meteorologists warn that snowfall intensity and band placement could shift rapidly, creating highly localized but severe impacts across Oswego County.
Forecast Shows Unusually High Snowfall Potential
The latest snowfall projection map highlights Fulton at the center of the heaviest lake-effect bands, with surrounding areas such as Pulaski expecting 9–16 inches and other nearby zones receiving lighter totals. The dramatic 9–44 inch range underscores the uncertainty tied to lake-effect snow, which depends heavily on wind direction, band persistence, and moisture streaming off Lake Ontario.
Forecasters note that when a snow band stalls over a single community—as often happens in this region—accumulation can increase at rates of 2–4 inches per hour, creating dangerous travel conditions and rapid snowpack build-up.
Why Totals Could Vary So Widely
Lake-effect snow is among the hardest winter phenomena to predict, and Fulton sits directly in one of New York’s most volatile snow belts. A small shift in wind patterns can drastically change snowfall totals, causing one neighborhood to receive several feet while another just a few miles away only picks up moderate accumulation.
Factors contributing to the extreme forecast range include:
- Warm lake water feeding high moisture into the snow bands
- Cold Arctic air passing over Lake Ontario
- Wind alignment that may lock snow bands over the same location for hours
- Topographical influences intensifying snowfall rates
If the heaviest bands persist over Fulton, totals could easily exceed three feet, which would significantly impact mobility and emergency response.
Travel And Safety Concerns
Residents in the Fulton and Pulaski areas should prepare for:
- Whiteout conditions
- Rapid road deterioration
- Potential road closures
- Difficult or impossible travel during peak squall activity
- Heavy snow loads on roofs and structures
Officials advise staying off the roads during the most intense bands and ensuring vehicles and homes are equipped for prolonged snowfall. Stay connected with SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for ongoing updates as this high-impact lake-effect event continues to evolve.
