Region gripped by wind, big snow

Cold winter air blowing across a warmer-than-normal Lake Ontario has produced an "intense" band of snow from northern Jefferson County to the center of the Tug Hill Plateau, a system which could leave up to 50 inches of white powder in some places by Saturday afternoon.

Stephen F. McLaughlin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Buffalo, said the band should settle about 10 miles south of Watertown early this morning.

"It's going to sit Friday from Adams to the middle of the Tug Hill — and sit and sit and sit," he said. "And then it moves into Oswego County Saturday."

A weather spotter in Beaver Falls reported 18.5 inches of snow unofficially by 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Mr. McLaughlin said some Tug Hill towns could get 40 to 50 inches of snow from Thursday to Saturday before the system departs.

A lake-effect snow advisory is in effect until 1 p.m. Saturday for Jefferson and Lewis counties. Sheriffs in both counties issued "no unnecessary travel" advisories late Thursday that were in effect until further notice.

Early falling snow and high wind, gusting up to 60 miles per hour, prompted all Jefferson County school superintendents to cancel classes Thursday. Alberto Bianchetti, a National Grid spokesman, said about 6,000 customers in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties lacked power early Thursday. Almost all Lewis County customers avoided service disruptions, according to the company's Web site.

Despite widespread problems in Henderson, Theresa, Cape Vincent, Orleans, Fowler and Macomb, the power company said only 49 customers in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties lacked service as of 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Blowing snow impaired visibility for motorists, but Jefferson County Fire and Emergency Management Director Joseph D. Plummer said there were no major accidents Thursday.

"We didn't have a lot of problems today," he said. "I think the schools closing was a big help. It kept a lot of people off the road. I think the publicity about the storm coming helped us a ton."

While the storm has largely moved away from St. Lawrence County, Edwards and the surrounding area served by TDS Telecom lost phone service sometime Thursday afternoon and there was no estimate on when service would be restored.

Residents without phone service were advised to go to the Edwards Fire Hall and activate the siren in case of emergency.