ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) -Nightfall has brought an uptick in snow coverage and intensity across the Rochester area, a sign of things to come into the weekend. Winds are shifting from the west to the northwest, driving snow bands southward in our general direction. This will mark the start of a busy next few days as locally heavy snow flutters around. We have gained a fresh 56 seconds of daylight today. Starting tomorrow, we cross the 1+ minute a day barrier. Let there be light! pic.twitter.com/0ox3rHyWAp— Eric Snitil (@EricSnitilWx) January 3, 2025 Upstream connections and a favorable wind direction will keep narrow bands of heavy snow alive Saturday. Under these bands, snowfall rates will exceed 1"/hour and travel will become difficult. Very quickly, however, conditions dramatically improve on either side of those bands. That's the game we'll play both Saturday and Sunday as shifting winds allow those bands to remain mobile. The way setups like this often play out is a favoring of heaviest snow totals east of Rochester along 104 into Wayne county and at Theresa's house. Snow amounts will fade dramatically the farther away from the lake you get southward. UPDATE: The train is still on the tracks for a locally heavy lake effect snow event into the weekend. As is typical, snowfall amounts will be highly variable, ranging from nothing more than a dusting for some to well over a foot for others. The mantra of "expect the unexpected"… pic.twitter.com/Ja7LICWykx— Eric Snitil (@EricSnitilWx) January 3, 2025 That results in a snow map where some of you don't even pick up an inch while others see in excess of a foot. It's all about band placement and even a mile or two can separate heavy snow versus bare ground. We'll quiet down late Sunday but more cold air and more lake effect are on the way next week. 8-Day Forecast