Cold air moving over the still largely ice-free Great Lakes is kicking off a prolonged period of heavy lake-effect snow.

The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center revealed that there would be a dangerous bout of winter weather. Strong northwest winds due to low-pressure system moving into Canada is expected to bring heavy lake-effect snow near the Great Lakes.

A lake effect snow warning and winter storm watches have been issued for several counties in New York. Here's how much snow will fall.