Strongest Storm in a Generation for New York on Christmas Weekend

While New York state and surrounding states will get a break from the wind, rain and snow for the next two days, that all changes by Thursday, as we will likely see a historic storm for the Christmas holiday.

There's a major winter storm coming to much of the United States and Canada. From the Plains to the Midwest and over to the Great Lakes and northeast. This storm will even create negative wind chills for states like Tennessee and Arkansas, along with single digit real feel temperatures in Texas.

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For New York state, there will be heavy rain, heavy snow and dangerous wind gusts, which poses the greatest threat, even more than the snowfall.

The greatest impact will be Western and Central New York, along with the region east off Lake Ontario.

Thursday will see rain, heavy at times, and by Friday it will shift to snow and rapidly decreasing temperatures. The wind gusts could range anywhere from 45-70 mph, depending on where you live. For the City of Buffalo, 65-70 mph wind gusts on Friday night, which will be the worst time for this event.

For those who have downplayed this storm's impact, Patrick Hammer of WGRZ says this could be the strongest storm in this area's history...

Lake effect snow will be the story on Saturday and Sunday (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

Western New York could see 5-8 inches, although those totals could go up. It's even more snow for those east off Lake Ontario.

Even if Friday comes and goes and residents don't lose power, the lake effect snow bands will make travel difficult.

Rain, freezing, heavy winds, heavy snow and drifting snow will all be factors from Thursday through Sunday, even into Monday.

This storm is dangerous. Stay safe this holiday weekend.