December 2, 2024

Lake effect snow slams Great Lakes, 7 states from Wisconsin to New York under snow alerts

WATCH: 7 states under snow alerts for lake effect snow

Lake effect snow is slamming the Great Lakes, with seven states from Wisconsin to New York under snow alerts on Monday.

So far, snow totals have reached 65 inches in Barnes Corners, New York; 30 inches in Erie, Pennsylvania; 56 inches in Saybrook, Ohio; and 42 inches in Gaylord, Michigan.

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A Bobcat skid-steer loader removes snow from a driveway in Erie, Pa., Dec. 1, 2024.
MORE: Winter storms: How to prepare and everything else you need to know

In Orchard Park, New York -- home to the Buffalo Bills -- the lake effect snow total has reached 26 inches so far.

The Bills played through the snow on their home turf on Sunday, beating the San Francisco 49ers 35-10.

Adrian Kraus/AP
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, scores past San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, bottom, during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Dec. 1, 2024.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
A stadium Guest Services workers clears snow from the seats in Highmark Stadium in preparation for a Sunday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers in Orchard Park, N.Y., Dec. 1, 2024.

A lake effect snow warning is in effect from Jamestown, New York, to Erie to Cleveland, where some areas could see additional 6 to 20 inches of snow.

In Syracuse, New York, 4 to 7 inches of snow is forecast over the next 24 hours.

In Michigan, a winter storm warning is in effect as intense lake effect snow bands continue to pound the western part of the state.

One driver is in critical condition after 14 passenger vehicles and three semi trucks were involved in a crash on Interstate 94 near Hartford in western Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police.

The heavy blowing snow caused whiteout conditions on the interstate, which is now shut down, police said.

MORE: How to stay safe in the cold

Up to 1 foot of snow is forecast for northern Indiana and five inches of snow is expected for northern Wisconsin.

The heaviest lake effect snow should be done by Tuesday morning for most of the Great Lakes.

John Normile/Getty Images
Lake effect snow clouds hang over Lake Erie and the Buffalo skyline on Dec. 1, 2024 as seen from Hamburg, N.Y.