NOAA

A "Severe Geomagnetic Storm ALERT" was issued for New York State. What does this mean and what should you do?

There is a chance you could catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights if you live in New York State.

If you haven't noticed, the coldest weather of the year is upon us, and it looks like it's gonna stick around for the week. We'll probably get some lake effect snow and a couple of rounds of more widespread snow, but it's the harsh temperatures and wind chills that have WNY bundling up this week.

Wasn't that nice, temperatures in the 60s on Tuesday throughout Western New York? Well, that's coming to an end soon. The National Weather Service is talking “Lake-Effect Snow” starting Thursday night, mostly in the south-towns.

UPDATED 7:30 pm 2/5/11 A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Niagara, Orleans, Northern Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Southern Erie Counties till 1am Sunday.

UPDATED 5:00am Wednesday 2/2/11 The National Weather Service has downgraded the WINTER STORM WARNING to a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY through 6pm.

This is the reason for all the Lake Effect Snow that Western New York is getting.