Meaghan M. McDermott

@meagmc

Did you really think it could last forever?

Did you think we'd continue to have these nice warm (well, relatively warm) temperatures and snow-free streetscapes even as the days continue to get shorter and time lumbers on towards Christmas, and then January and perhaps worst of all, February?

Well, here's the truth: the National Weather Service's Hazardous Weather Outlook for Monroe and other western New York counties is looking a little bleak in the near term.

Here's a direct quote from an alert sent out around 5 a.m. today: "If you have any remaining preparations to make for the winter season, this weekend and early next week may be a good time to complete those preparations."

Yep.

Indeed, the forecast — admittedly still highly uncertain — notes there's a possibility of significant lake effect snow east of the lower Great Lakes next week, and those snows will come hand-in-mittened hand with much lower temperatures and windy conditions.

There aren't any snowfall estimates yet, but the Weather Service advises "confidence is high that parts of the area will receive significant snow accumulations."

On that cheery note, here's a few tips courtesy of AAA of Western & Central New York for getting your car ready for the (possibly) impending storm.

Check your tires. Make sure you have ample tread and that your tire pressure is correct. Also, consider snow tires.

Have your vehicle's battery and charging system tested. The most common cause of cold-weather breakdowns is a weak or dead battery.

Make sure your engine coolant provides adequate anti-freeze protection.

Replace worn windshield wiper blades.

Keep your gas tank at least half full to minimize condensation buildup that can cause your gas line to freeze.

Carry a winter-driving kit that includes a fully-charged phone, flashlight with fresh batteries, a snow shovel and brush, traction mats or a bag of abrasive material such as cat litter, gloves, window washing solvent and a first aid kit.

In the meantime, the forecast through Friday calls for daytime high temperatures in the low 40s and chances of rain and snow through the week. No significant accumulations are predicted.

MCDERMOT@Gannett.com