Travel Advisory Issued For City of Buffalo And Surrounding Areas

The last few days have given us several signs that winter has finally blown into the Buffalo region. The things that let us know we're in for the long haul on the weather front have been stacking up.

Ski slopes and winter resorts are open for business, we've seen a few lake effect snow events already, and the infamous ice boom is being installed as we speak. Now, thanks to a big blast of winter weather and lake effect snow that is hitting Buffalo and the Northtowns on Monday, December 15, 2025, officials in Buffalo City Hall have issued the first travel advisory for the season.

According to data from the National Weather Service, a band of lake effect snow started to blow into the Buffalo area around noon and intensified as the day went on. Around 6 inches of snow is expected to accumulate during the current Lake Effect Snow Warning that is in effect until approximately 1 pm on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

The snow is expected to make travel all around Western New York difficult in several areas that are outside the normal snowband areas, including Buffalo proper and several northtowns. While regional snowplow services should be able to keep up with the snowfall that is coming down, all Western New York drivers should exercise due care when traveling around the 716.

KEEP READING: New York State Asks You To Use Less Salt This Winter

When a Travel Advisory is issued, government officials request that residents do their best to avoid unnecessary travel. This is typically requested when conditions are at a point where unnecessary travel may make things more difficult for road workers and other emergency personnel to get where they need to go. Travel advisories are just requests, and are not travel bans when the roads are closed, and only emergency personnel can be out.

If you happen to find yourself out on the roads over the next couple of days, please make sure you take your time and be careful on the roads.

Get our free mobile app