Syracuse, N.Y. — Heavy lake effect snows are hitting Central New York today, with gusty winds.

The National Weather Service is forecasting 6 to 12 inches of snow Thursday into Friday for Onondaga and Madison counties. Oswego and Cayuga counties are expected to get less snow.

Winds could gust to 40 mph in many areas.

School closings

The snow is expected to intensify throughout the day and into the evening in Onondaga and Madison counties, according to the weather service. The snow will continue overnight into Friday morning. Forecasts call for the snow to stop earlier in Oswego and Cayuga counties.

At times, snow will fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches an hour, according to the weather service.

Blowing and drifting snow will create periods of reduced visibility at times.

The weather ser

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