Upstate NY here, to the lee of the lake. Still 3 below zero here, got down to 19 below last night. We are expected to get 6-12 inches from the storm ( the outer fringes). Then when the storm sits over NE the WNW winds will start dragging the frigid air over the lake, kicking up the Lake Effect. They are forecasting 6-12 inches from that, but Lake Effect is an inexact science. When they forecast 6-12 it very likely could be 2 to 3 feet, perhaps more. It is also based on which direction the wind is coming from over the lake. Not uncommon for one area to get 3 feet and a town 10 miles away to get a half an inch.
Side note. Somebody tell me how to post pics . After nearly 7 years as a freeper I still do not know how.
Last night in the upstate Mohawk Valley it got down to minus 15 degrees. I had to BBQ last night out in the cold. Probably the coldest I ever BBQd in. But upstate New Yorkers are use to this.
Official Upstate New York Temperature Conversion Chart
60 Above
* Carolinians try to turn on the heat.
* People in Upstate New York plant gardens
50 Above
* Californians shiver uncontrollably.
* People in Upstate New York sunbathe.
40 Above
* Italian and English cars won't start.
* People in Upstate New York drive with the windows down.
32 Above
* Distilled water freezes.
* Lake Ontario's water gets thicker.
20 Above
* Southerners don coats, thermal underware, gloves and wooly hats.
* People in Upstate New York throw on a flannel shirt.
15 Above
* Philiadelphia landlords finally turn up the heat.
* People in Upstate New York have the last cook-out before it gets cold.
0
* People in Miami all die.
* Upstaters lick the flagpole.
20 below
* Californians fly away to Mexico.
* People in Upstate New York get out their winter coats.
40 below
* Hollywoon disintegrates.
* The Girl Scouts in Upstate New York are selling cookies door to door.
60 below
* Polar bears begin to evacuate the Artic.
* Upstate Boy Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets cold enough.
80 below
* Mt St. Helen's freezes.
* People in Upstate New York rent some videos.
100 below
* Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
* Upstaters get frustarted because they can't thaw the keg.
297 below
* Microbial life no longer survies on dairy products.
* Cows in Upstate New York complain about farmers with cold hands
460 below
* All atomic motion stops (absolute zero on Kelvin scale)
* People in Upstate NY start crying... "Cold 'nuff for ya?"