A large area of low pressure is expected to hit Ithaca as it sweeps across the U.S. Saturday through Tuesday, bringing heavy snow and ice with it across an expansive area from New Mexico to Maine. Ithaca could be bracing for its biggest two-day snowfall total since February 2021. This forecast will detail the timeline, impacts and preparation efforts for this impactful winter storm.
Timeline and Impacts
Ahead of the expected snowfall, Saturday will feature bitterly cold temperatures and wind chills. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. on Friday until 1 p.m. on Saturday. During the advisory period, feel-like temperatures will hover between -15 degrees Fahrenheit and -25 degrees. Little relief is expected throughout the daytime hours, with high temperatures struggling to break 10 degrees and wind chills bordering 0 degrees. After early snowfall, a lake-effect snow band — snow formed from cold air moving over lake water — originating off Cayuga Lake may bring an additional one to two inches of snow throughout the day.
Expect increasing cloud cover Saturday evening into the overnight hours as the system approaches. Those clouds will act like a blanket, preventing warm air from escaping, and keeping lows in the upper single digits. Clouds will continue to thicken in the early morning as moisture is funneled from the Gulf of Mexico along the leading edge of the precipitation shield.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the entire Finger Lakes region, including Ithaca, from 1 a.m. Sunday through 7 p.m. Monday. The National Weather Service expects 12 to 18 inches of snow during that time, with a significant portion falling Sunday afternoon, when snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour at times. Travel impacts will be most pronounced between noon and 8 p.m. on Sunday as road crews often struggle to keep up with rapid accumulation rates.
Hourly snowfall accumulations from NOAA’s RRFS model
Snow will become much lighter after midnight Sunday night, but an additional two to four inches of snowfall will be possible throughout the day on Monday. Despite ongoing snow and cloud cover, Monday will be the warmest day of the upcoming week, with highs peaking around 22 degrees.
By the time the last snowflake falls after sunset Monday evening, lower elevation areas near Cayuga Lake will likely have received 10 to 15 inches of snow, while campus totals range from 11 to 16 inches. Higher-elevation areas south and east of campus could see up to 20 inches in localized areas.
Preparations
In preparation for the storm, the Student Union Board announced in an email Friday that ClubFest would be moved to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., a day earlier than originally scheduled.
The Cornell Office of Emergency Management announced in an email addressed to the Cornell community Friday that they are “monitoring conditions closely for possible disruptions to campus operating status and for any services and facilities that may be limited.”
As of 1 p.m. on Saturday, no official announcement has been made regarding the University’s operating status for Monday.
On Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the entirety of New York State in anticipation of the storm. Additionally, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office issued a travel advisory discouraging unnecessary travel on Sunday and Monday.
"New Yorkers are used to winter weather, but we shouldn't take this weekend’s forecast lightly," Hochul posted on X. “I’m declaring a State of Emergency to make sure local leaders have the tools to keep their communities safe.”
