Southern Tier residents should be prepared for a snowed-in weekend, as a significant winter storm will be moving into the area.
National Weather Service Binghamton has issued a winter storm watch for the Southern Tier that is in effect from late in the evening of Saturday, Jan. 24 until the evening of Monday, Jan. 26. The winter storm watch calls for heavy snow, with travel projected to be either being very difficult or impossible.
Throughout the day on Sunday, Jan. 25, snowfall could exceed two inches per hour, the watch says.
National Weather Service Binghamton meteorologist Ben Lott said the Southern Tier is anticipated to get between 12 and 18 inches of snow in some areas. AccuWeather, however, currently projects less snow in the Elmira and Corning areas.
The snow will generally move in overnight Saturday, Jan. 24, but steady, heavy snowfall is expected to begin around 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 and continue for the remainder of the day.
The snow should slowly taper off starting the morning of Monday, Jan. 26, Lott said, however there is still some lingering snow expected as the day goes on.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a State of Emergency for New York ahead of the massive winter storm.
Here are specific forecasts for the Elmira and Corning areas beginning Jan. 24, according to the National Weather Service.
What will the winter storm look like in the Elmira, Corning areas?
The snow will slowly move into the area Saturday, Jan. 24, with less than a half inch of accumulation in the forecast after 1 a.m.
By Sunday, Jan. 25, there is a 100% chance of snow all day and all night, with heavy snow expected at times during the day and in the evening.
There is a 60% chance of precipitation on Monday, Jan. 26, with snow expected before 1 p.m. before shifting to snow showers after 1 p.m.
AccuWeather is projecting 3-6 inches of snow on Sunday. Temperatures will remain low, with a high around 14 degrees.
There is no snow in the forecast by the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 26.
Temperatures will remain low next week, with highs not projected climb much higher than 20 degrees.
City of Elmira issues parking guidance for weekend storm
In preparation for the weekend weather event, the City of Elmira Department of Public Works is asking residents to avoid unnecessary driving and delay road trips when especially bad weather is expected.
City officials are also asking drivers to be aware of snowplows on the road, to give them adequate room to operate, maintaining a safe distance behind so the operators can see them, and to avoid passing snowplows.
Motorists are also asked to park off-street if possible, and if on-street parking is the only option, to avoid parking directly across from other cars, as it can make it difficult for plows to pass through the tighter space.
DPW officials also remind residents that plowing or shoveling snow from driveways and sidewalks into the street is against state law. It’s also recommended residents wait if possible until after streets have been plowed to shovel their driveway entrances.
To facilitate parking and plowing during the snow event, the city will offer free parking at the Centertown Parking Garage from noon Saturday until 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27.
All other parking regulations will remain in effect. For more information on snow removal operations, read the Citizen’s Guide to Snow Removal at cityofelmirany.gov/250/Snow-Removal.
Public meeting in Corning pushed back due to storm
Due to the expected snowstorm, a DEC public meeting concerning cleanup of the Gibson Scrapyard site in Corning has been moved to Tuesday, Jan 27 at 5 p.m. at the Southeast Steuben County Library.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: How much snow will winter storm drop on Elmira, Corning? See projections
Reporting by Sunshyne Lynch and Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
