At 1:14 p.m. on Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a lake effect snow warning valid from Thursday 1 a.m. until Friday 7 a.m. for Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties.“Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph,” explains the weather service. “The widespread snow will gradually taper off this evening, and some rain could mix in for a time in the lower elevations. The lake effect snow begins early Thursday morning, becoming heavier through the day and into Thursday evening. Lake effect snow then persists into Thursday night and Friday morning. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour will be possible in the heaviest lake effect snow bands. The highest lake effect snow totals are expected to be centered over the Syracuse metro area east into north-central Madison county, then extending into southern Oneida county. The highest totals are expected to remain south of Utica, Rome and New Hartford in southern Oneida county. The Mohawk Valley area is expected to see 2 to 5 inches of snow Thursday into Thursday night.” ...read more read less