Some heavy lake-effect snow bands will develop downwind of the Great Lakes tonight into Saturday as cold winds whip through the area.

The colder air will rush into the region following a snowstorm which will push into the Canadian Maritime provinces on Saturday. Up to a foot of snow has fallen across Michigan with the storm.

The Great Lakes are still relatively mild and mostly unfrozen, which is rare for this late in the season, so the cold air will allow snow showers to develop across Michigan, Wisconsin, northern Indiana, Ohio, western Pennsylvania and western New York.

Quick bursts of snow will also whiten the Appalachians tonight into Saturday all the way southward into the mountains of North Carolina.

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The heaviest bands are expected to set up downwind of Lake Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York state tonight.

Heavy bands of snow will develop downwind of Lake Ontario across New York state late tonight into Saturday.

Motorists in Erie, Pa., and Syracuse, N.Y., should be prepared for sudden bursts of snow that could suddenly reduce the visibility and create hazardous road conditions.

Erie, Pa., will will get 3-6 inches of snow with some areas to the east receiving 6-9 inches, according to AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Brian Wimer.

This is potentially the heaviest snowfall of the season for the Syracuse, N.Y., area, which may get more than half a foot of snow through Saturday.

Buffalo, N.Y., will get 1-3 inches of snow, while a few spots south of the city in ski country could pick up 6-9 inches of snow.