Ready or not, here comes Winter Storm Harper. It's going to hit us and hit hard.

The National Weather Service has upgraded Harper from a Watch to a Winter Storm  Warning for what they are calling EXTREME snowfall. Latest forecast maps indicate 18 to 24 inches of snow for most of Central New York. Here are the storm current projected path and snowfall amounts.

WHAT... Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 20 inches expected. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph Sunday afternoon will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Photo Credit - Noaa.gov
Photo Credit - Noaa.gov
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WHEN... From noon Saturday to 4 PM Sunday. The heaviest snow is expected to fall Saturday evening into Sunday morning. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are expected, with 3 inches in the heavy bands, making travel difficult to impossible.

Photo Credit - Noaa.gov
Photo Credit - Noaa.gov
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WHERE... In New York, Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tompkins, Madison, Southern Oneida, Cortland, Chenango, Otsego, Tioga, Broome, and Delaware counties. In Pennsylvania, Bradford County.

Forecast models differ on where the snow versus sleet and freezing rain divide. Some indicate the sleet and freezing rain could go as far north as Binghamton, while the other has it stopping In Sullivan County, NY. Making matters even worse, warm Lake Ontario waters may bring Lake Effect Snow into the already powerful storm.

It'll be followed by arctic temperatures with dangerous wind chills Sunday with lows well below zero.

Photo Credit - Noaa.gov
Photo Credit - Noaa.gov
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Winter Weather Preparation:

  • Keep your cell phone charged and make sure you know where your backup power supply is.
  • Make sure all your flashlights have fresh batteries.
  • Fill your gas tank. You can use your car to keep warm and recharge devices.
  • Have some food available that you don’t need to cook.
  • Download the STATION App. You’ll receive local alerts, weather reports and more with push notifications.

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