Heavy Snow Warning for Great Lakes After Thundersnow Hit New York State

Snow warnings are in place for much of western New York State, with heavy snowfall expected across the Great Lakes region during Saturday and Sunday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning travel will become "very difficult to impossible," with around four feet of snow expected for areas south of Buffalo.

Drone footage showed snow rolling into Buffalo, with up to four inches accumulating per hour, while a travel ban has now been imposed across the city.

In New York's western Erie County, the town of Orchard Park recorded 5.5 feet on Friday, according to the NWS.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz reported two people died from "cardiac events related to exertion," while shoveling or blowing snow.

He added: "We send our deepest sympathies and remind all that this snow is very heavy and dangerous."

NWS lake effect snow warnings are currently in place for part or all of St. Lawrence, Niagara, Jefferson, Genesee, Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Oswego and Oneida counties in New York State.

Lake effect snow is created when cold air moves across a relatively warm unfrozen lake, picking up water vapor which it goes on to deposit as snow.

In its latest update, the NWS said: "Periods of heavy lake effect snow will persist through Sunday downwind of each of the Great Lakes.

"East of Lakes Erie and Ontario, snowfall will at times be accompanied by lightning, gusty winds, and rates of 3 inches plus per hour. This will produce near zero visibility, very difficult to impossible travel, damage to infrastructure, and may paralyze the hardest-hit communities.

"Across parts of the Upper Peninsula and western Lower Peninsula of Michigan, snowfall rates will reach 1-2 inches per hour and combine with gusty winds to produce near-zero visibility and dangerous travel. Total snow amounts of 1-2 feet are expected in many locations, reaching 2-3 feet east of Lakes Erie and Ontario."

The analysis noted that "historic snowfall," in excess of four feet, is likely around Buffalo.

Around this area, the NWS forecasts "very cold air" with "temperatures forecast to be 20 degrees below normal across parts of the region this weekend."

On Friday, a rare "snownado" was spotted over Lake Erie by storm chaser Simon Brewer.

The phenomenon, which sends snow spinning into the sky, can occur when cold air passes a warmer surface, while wind direction changes cause rising air to spiral.

The Buffalo Bills had been due to play the Cleveland Browns at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, but the game has been moved to Detroit due to heavy snowfall.

Last week more than 100,000 homes and businesses lost power in Florida, after Hurricane Nicole crashed into the state during the early hours of November 10.

The National Weather Service has been contacted for comment.