Steve Orr

@SOrr1

Stout bands of lake effect snow have set up off the eastern ends of Lakes Ontario and Erie, signaling the advent of another late-autumn snow adventure in upstate New York.

Up to two feet of fresh snow are expected south of Buffalo, and nearly that much in portions of Jefferson, Oswego or Lewis counties near Lake Ontario.

In the Rochester area, however, the National Weather Service has clawed back snowfall estimates. The northeastern corner of Monroe County could get 8 to 12 inches of snow this lake effect event, not 12 to 18 inches. And the rest of Monroe County should get no more than six inches, and in many places considerably less.

The snow in this part of the state isn't expected to start until late Thursday.

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Snowfall rates will be very heavy at times Thursday and Thursday to the east of the two Great Lakes areas, with "thundersnow" — lightning and thunder caused by rapidly lifting air inside the snow bands — in both locations. Some of the snow off Lake Erie could blow as far inland as the Bristol Hills, coating portions of Ontario and Livingston counties with a few inches.

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SORR@Gannett.com