Near Buffalo, between 10 and 20 inches of lake effect snow is expected by the end of Sunday, according to the Weather Service. The southern part of Erie County, along with Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, are predicted to see 2 to 4 feet of snow by Monday night.

Officials in upstate New York counties have declared a state of emergency as they prepare for a major snowstorm that has already dumped over two feet of snow in the Midwest and is forecast to accumulate more this weekend.

The Great Lakes region on Saturday began digging out from the season's first major snowstorm as the Midwest and Plains shivered under an arctic blast forecast to spread over the eastern third of the country.

A blast of Arctic air taking over much of the U.S. is bringing powerful lake-effect snow to several states and shivering temperatures to parts of the South.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNINGS ARE UP FOR GENESEE AND WYOMING COUNTIES THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS HEAVY SNOW FALLS EAST OF LAKE ERIE. Snowfall rates 2-3″ per hour within LES bands will meander south of Buffalo and across the Tug Hill throughout Saturday and Sunday.

A winter storm packing heavy snow and rain is on its way to New York state, threatening Thanksgiving travel plans for millions as people leave home ahead of the holiday.

The first major lake effect snow system of the season hit parts of Pennsylvania and western New York on Saturday, with totals expected to exceed 5 feet. Plows have been working furiously to clear the roads,