Orleans expected to get 3 to 6 inches of snow today through Saturday

Extreme cold advisory also in effect tonight through Sunday morning

Photo by Marsha Rivers: A motorist drives on Ashwood Road in Carlton last week during frigid temperatures.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold advisory and also a winter weather advisory for Orleans County.

The winter weather advisory started at 7 a.m. today and continues until 7 p.m. on Saturday. Orleans County is expected to get 3 to 6 inches of snow during that time period.

The advisory also includes Niagara, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will create areas of blowing and drifting snow, the National Weather Service said.

A cold weather advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. tonight until 10 a.m. on Sunday with bitterly cold wind chills between 15 and 24 below zero expected.

“This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors,” the Weather Service said. “If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder.”

The high temperature today in Orleans County is forecast to reach 27 but will drop to around 0 overnight.

Saturday is forecast for a high of 6 degrees and overnight low around 0, with Sunday’s high at 11.