The first wave of lake effect snow earlier this week, driven by northwest winds, produced record-breaking snowfall in the Syracuse area. The weather service recorded 24.2 inches of snow on Monday, the second-snowiest day since records began 123 years ago. Syracuse has had more than 6 feet of snow so far this season.

A prolonged and dangerous lake-effect snow event is expected to impact large portions of western and north-central New York this week, with multiple winter storm warnings now in effect.

A series of powerful winter storms are bearing down on New York, setting the stage for icy sidewalks and widespread travel chaos from upstate to New England. A pair of winter storm systems is sweeping across the United States, bringing a prolonged stretch of snow, ice and heavy rain to much of the Northeast.

The latest snowfall totals over the last 24 hours are in this morning from the National Weather Service. The totals are a bit incomplete so far, but they show Fulton had more than 2 feet of snow as of 5 p.

On the West Coast, a new storm system is expected to bring rain back to California on New Year’s Eve before expanding across much of the Southwest on New Year’s Day. Showers could affect outdoor events, including the New Year’s Day parade and a college football bowl game in Southern California.

A High Wind Watch has been issued for parts of western New York from late Sunday night through late Monday night, according to the NWS in Buffalo.

Ultimately, areas that receive persistent lake effect snow in the coming days are forecast to receive about 1 to 2 feet of snow on average, Dombek said; local amounts could even exceed 3 feet. Residents should expect the New Year’s Eve clipper to clear out by Thursday morning.

Winter Storm Warnings also remain in effect through 7 a.m. Saturday for Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties, where lake-effect snow could produce 1 to 2 feet of accumulation, with up to 4 feet possible in Oswego County. Snowfall rates may reach 3 to 5 inches per hour in the strongest bands, making travel extremely dangerous or impossible at times.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- A cold front sweeping across Upstate New York today could bring thunderstorms with damaging winds, the National Weather Service said. The storms will be isolated but could be severe, with winds of 58 mph or greater. Even in areas where ...